slet - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

slẹ̄t n.(1)

Forms	slẹ̄t n.(1) Also slete, sleth(e, (in place name) slette.
Etymology	?OE (A) slēte, prob. from slautjan-; cp. MLG slōten hail & ME slutte n.

(a) Sleet; mingled snow and rain; also, a sleet shower [2nd quot.]; (b) ?mud, slush; -- in place names only [see Smith PNElem.2.128].

a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)826 : Pescher vout, ne pout pur ceyn [glossed:] sleth [vr. slet].
a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.160 : Le cem, [glossed:] the sletz, empeyre nostre veye.
?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)146/39 : Þer nis dunnir, slete no hawle.
c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)585 : Il est ceyme pur ce qil cemoie: Hit is slethe for hit slethuth.
(c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1250 : The bittre frostes with the sleet and reyn Destruyed hath the grene in euery yerd.
c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)729 : Ner slayn wyth þe slete he sleped in his yrnes.
a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)341 : Þare sal cum slik slete and rayne Þat unnese sal þou stand ogayne.
a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)375 : I was drevyn with snaw and slete.
a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2651 : For reyne or hayle, for snowe, for slete.
c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1220 : Doun cam the reyn, with hayl and slet, so faste.
(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)459 : Sleet, of snowe: Nicula.
c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)82 : Thay rane faste to the roches..For þe slete and þe snawe, þat snayppede þame so snelle.
a1450 Where-of is mad (Dgb 102)69 : In het, in cold, in snow and slet.
a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4222 : I schal walken in snowȝ and sleet.
a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)118/61 : Now in dry, now in wete, Now in snaw, now in slete.