Middle English Dictionary Entry
spekel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spekel n. Also spakle, spakkil; pl. speckles. |
| Etymology | From spek(ke n. or MDu. speckel, var. of spickel; ?also cp. OE specel (in haran-specel). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sprekle n.
1.
(a) A spark, bit of burning ash; (b) a gold-colored fleck; (c) ?a diamond-shaped spot.
Associated quotations
a
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)9954 : He sterte forth as spekyll on [Cmb: sparke of] fyre, And smote the Duke with gret Ire.
b
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)155 : Loke wel evermore if thu schalt bye eny manere of lapis lazuly, and it have not withynne him many smale specklez as it were golde.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)467 : Spakle [Win:Way: spakkyl]: Scutula.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 15/13 : Loke wel eueremore for eny þyng ȝif þat þu schalt bye eny manere of lapis lazuli and hit haue not withynne hym manye smale spekles as hit were gold.
Note: Antedates sense (b).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. speckle.