Middle English Dictionary Entry
spoil(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spoil(e n. Also spuil; pl. spoil(e)s, spoilles, spoles, spu(i)les. |
| Etymology | From OF espoille, espoile, AF espuille & L spolium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. despoile n.
1.
(a) That which is forfeit to a conqueror, booty; -- also coll.; maken ~ of, to carry off (goods) as plunder; (b) pl. spoils, booty; trophies; treasures; also fig.; (c) the act of despoiling or ravaging.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.21.9 : Who..shul..flee to þe caldeis..shal lyuen & be shal to hym his soule as spoile [WB(2): a prey; vr. spuyl ether prey; L spolium].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)979 : Þe spoyle þai token of þe dede, Hors and armes gode at nede.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2556 : After þat was parted þe spoyle [LinI: spoyl; rime: doel], Þat vche man was wel ypayed.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6471 : What þat þei may fynde Þei cast on hepe..And made spoile of al þat was with-Inne.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)540 : Thei schulden haue lyued..as sowdiers, forto fiȝte and slee for spoile and money.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)67.13 : Ha kyng of vertu of loued of loued, of þe grace of þyn hous to departen þe spuyles [vr. spoles].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.49.27 : Beniamyn, a wlf raumpaund..þe euentyd he schall deuide spoyles.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.3.7 : Beestys forsoþe & spulys of þe cytees we han from drawyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 8.12 : Kyng dauiþ halewede to þe lord with þe seluer & gold..& of þe spooilis [L manubiis] of Adadeȝer.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.33.4 : Lord..gedered togidere shul ben ȝoure spoiles as is gedered bruch.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 11.22 : If a strongere..ouercome him, he schal take a wey alle his armeris in whiche he tristide and..dele abrood his spuylis.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)Cant.Mo.1.9 : I schal felow & i schal take & i schal depart spoyles [UC 64: spoils].
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.33/10 : We be lernyd of worldly kunnynge, As it were by the spoylys of egipcyanys, [etc.].
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)1878 : Foure kinges waystid the lande whare dwelt than Abraham..and spoilles many hadde thai with ham.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.502 : The Philistees..Took the spoiles..And theroff made..To Astraoth off pride a gret present.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)385 : Mekely I praied the names..with the high spuyles [L tropheis] of victory, overcomen in Macedony to Olimpi.
c
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2134 : Bigynneþ ȝoure foomen coile, Al to sleiȝtte, and nouȝth to spoyle.
- (1461) RParl.5.476b : The seid Henry Usurpour, dissimilyng the destruction of other Lordes..wherof experience sheweth the clerenes, respect had to the spoile by theym of Godds chirch, of Chalesses, Crosses of Sylver, [etc.].