Middle English Dictionary Entry
springald n.
Entry Info
| Forms | springald n. Also springold, -olt, spriggalde, springal, -ol, -el & (in surnames) springaud, -at, -old, -oud, -out, -ot; pl. springaldes, etc. & springaltes, -oltes, sprigaldis, springalles, springlas, springolus, -ollis. |
| Etymology | OF espringale, -alle, -ole, AF springald(e & ML springalis, AL springaldus, springallus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A siege machine used for hurling stones and other heavy projectiles, a catapult; also, the missile thrown by such a catapult; also fig.; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)204/4346 : Sum þai wente to þe wal Wiþ bowes and wiþ springal.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3310 : Summe to þe engyns wente & caste stones sterke, And summe springols stiþe bente & schute gleyues scherpe.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.214 : [A] spryngall [with 5] takeles [without heads].
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)85/1069 : Euerey Towre was about þe walles With Arblasters and spryngalles.
- (1410) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 44/17 [OD col.] : j vise pro le springold.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)15 : Þe hert..smyteth as a stroke of a spryngol [vr. spryngell], for he haþ grete strength in þe hede and þe body.
- (1422) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.195 : Thomas Hostell..being at the Siege of Harflewe, there smyten with a springolt through the hede, lesing his oon ye and his cheke boon broken.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4191 : Withynne the castell were Spryngoldes, gunnes, and bows archers.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)2956 : Maistres þer were full slye of keste To kepen þe spryngals of þe beste, And many anoþur quaynt engyne To shenden hem þat were withinne.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)90a : Þey hadden greet bowes of brake & springoldes y-wounde & bend wiþ vice with huge schaftes ymade þerafter wiþ brode and large hedes of steel & yren.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)104b : Schot of wylde fuyr I-schote wiþ grete arblastes and springolus..and hit fastne in eny tymber or tree, hit tendith and brenneþ.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5411 : R. on þat oþir syde lay, On batayll redy euery day, Wiþ mangenel and wiþ spryngeles [vr. spryngells], Wiþ manye arewes and quarelles.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1419 : Sum..Spedely with sprygaldis [Dub: springaltez] spilt þaire braynes.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)62 : To the herte ne to the thouht no dart may misdo, al be it that the wikkede neyhebore can strongliche sheete his arwes and hise springaldes [F espringale].
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)87/27 : With springaldis, tribiettis, gunnes, balastirs thei mightily cast out stones and quarellis.
- c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)p.16 : Bothe govnnys and quarellys went so thrylle, Trypget and spryggalde [vrr. sprynglas, spryngollis] and grete ingyne.
b
- (1195) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Springald.
- (1220) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Springoud.
- (1245-6) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Robert Springout.
- (1272) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Emma Springhalt.
- (1275) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Adam Springald.
- (1279) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Walter Springaud.
- (1297) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : John Springot.
- (1310) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : William Springold.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19242 : Elias Springout.
- (1327) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames329 : Deynes Springat.