Middle English Dictionary Entry
stāle n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | stāle n.(2) Also (early) stala. |
| Etymology | OE stalu theft. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stele n.(2).
1.
(a) The act or crime of stealing, theft; (b) stealth; bi ~, furtively.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)14/35 : He sceal beon bewerigend wydewena & steopcildena, & stale alecgen.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)17/5 : Auaritia, þæt is seo yfele gitsung..macað reaflac & unrihte domes, stale & leasunge & forsworennysse.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Stala and steorfa swiðe cow [read: eow] scal hene.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)39 : Leteð eower stale and eower reaflac.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)253 : Þis is þet fur þet efre bernd..Þer inne boð þa þe was to lof wreche men to swenchen..Þe luueden tening and stale, hordom and drunken.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)213 : Þis beoð at drinche and oðer unriht inoh..wicching and swikedom, stale and leoð.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)9/26 : Ine þise heste is uorbode roberie, þiefþe, stale.
b
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)8/74 : Hire wune is to cumen bi stale, ferliche & unmundlunge, hwen me least weneð.