Middle English Dictionary Entry
spẹ̄lunk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spẹ̄lunk(e n. Also spelunc, spelonk(e, spelonc; pl. spelunkes, etc. & spellunkis & (?errors) spelumpkys, spekelonkes, spelunses. |
| Etymology | L spēlunca & OF espelonche, spelonque, espelunce, spelunque; cp. MDu. spelonke, spelunke. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A cavern in a rock, cave; a den; ~ of thefes, fig. a den of thieves; (b) a burial cave, tomb; double ~, a two-chambered tomb, place of double burial.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)171a/a : Spelunca is a dyche or an holownesse vndir erþe..an able place to abyd ynne and to biholde and loke aboute. ]
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.19.30 : He dwelt in a spelonc [vrr. spelunc, cawe; WB(2): denne].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.6.2 : Þey made to hem cauys & spelumpkys [vr. spelunkis; WB(2): dennes; L speluncas] in hullys & most defensable placys to wiþstondyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.15.8 : He, descendynge, dwellide in þe spelunke of þe ston of Ethan.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.7.11 : A spelunke or denne of theues maad is þis hous?
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.270 : Monkes and mendynauntz men bi hem-selue, In spekes an in spelonkes [vrr. spekelonkes, spelunses] selden speken togideres.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)13/13 : Þe seyntes..weren in wildernesse, in spelunkes and in cauernes of erþe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5392 : Þai come till a caue..All spritis in þis spelonk here speke þai to-gedire.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)17/7 : Snotyngham, the wch sowndithe yn englysshe a mancyon or a dwellynge of spellunkis or kavis.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)493 : Thou beldes in thes buskes bare And specially in this spelunke In wyldernes als dyd a monke.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.23.9 : Ȝif it pleese to ȝour soul þat I byrye my deede..prey ȝe for me anentes Ephron..þat he ȝife to me þe dubble spelonke [vr. spelunk] þat he haþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Judith (Bod 959)24 : She liuede an hundrid ȝer & fiue & is biried in þe spelunke of hir husbonde manasse in betulia.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)43/34 : Men clepen þat place where þei lyȝn double spelunke or double cave or double dych for als meche as þat on lyeth aboue þat other.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)49 : The sperle of þe spelunke þat sparde hit o-lofte Was metely made of þe marbre.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)217 : Quil he in spelunke þus spake þer sprange in þe pepulle.
- ?a1500 Hist.World (Trin-O 29)14/522 : It is callyd double spelunke or doble graue, for oon lyeth vpon anothyr.