Middle English Dictionary Entry
bērdlēs adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bērdlēs adj. |
| Etymology | OE beardlēas |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Without a beard, beardless; ~ boi, ~ chin, etc.; (b) not having reached manhood, underage; (c) pers. name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1507 : Þe berdles kniȝt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.349 : Þere come fiftene ȝong berdles [L imberbibus] men.
- (c1391) Gower CA Suppl.(Hnt EL 26.A.17)5.7202* : His fader..Was beerdles, with a yongly face.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13a/b : Þey [angels] beþ j peyntid berdles for to take..heede þat þey passith neuere þe staat of ȝouthe, noþir wexiþ feble.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)789 : Bolde burnez were þay boþe, wyth berdles chynnez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)280 : Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdlez chylder.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)33 : And ek also with his pylled nolle, The pardowner, beerdlees al his Chyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.881 : This tiraunt..Beheld Appollo berdles, that was old.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)13385 : Ȝonge berdless boyes they ben.
- c1450(c1420) Proph.Becket (Hat 56)139 : A bataile of berdlese barnes.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.235 : Alle þe berdles burnes bayed on him euere.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1015 : By the nose I schall the wryng, Thow berdles gadlyng.
b
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)28 : Berdeles: depubis, jmpubis, investis, inverbis.
c
- (c1225) Doc.in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.127 : Tho. Berdles.