Middle English Dictionary Entry
squil(le n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | squil(le n.(1) Pl. swilles. |
| Etymology | Perh. from MDu.: cp. Flem. swyle, var. of seule bucket; also cp. AF esquil (var. of OF escüele) & AL squilla bowl or dish; & cp. MnE dial. (Northern) swill basket. The example in (b) may be an aberrant form of ME quil n. associated with this word because of confusion between cāne n. & canne n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. skele n.
1.
(a) A woven basket; ?also, a bucket; (b) a hollow stem or cane.
Associated quotations
a
- (1337-9) *Acc.Exch.Q.R.Bundle 20 No.27 [OD col.] : De id. ob. solutis pro uno sqwille empto.
- (1395) Cart.Whitby in Sur.Soc.72604 : Pro ii cannis et i sqwill, subulco, vi d.
- (1398) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120164 : Ceaux qe vendount oistres desormes facent vendre par swylles.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)388/9 : He wolde make baskettis and swyllis of palme levis.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3362 : Þer is a worme..And whan men wil..his venym outerly represse, Þei take a squille..or a large canne, And in þe ende þe ston þei sette þanne, And lyne riȝt a-geyn þe wormes hed Þei holden it, til þat he be ded.