Middle English Dictionary Entry
stāle n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | stāle n.(3) Pl. stāles, stailis, (early) stalen. |
| Etymology | OE stalu a piece of wood into which a harp-string is fixed; cp. MDu. stāle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stele n.(1).
1.
(a) One of the uprights of a ladder; also, ?a post or pillar [2nd quot.]; laddere ~; (b) a rung in a ladder; also, a position in a series, a tier [2nd quot.]; (c) a handle; (d) a shoot of a plant, stalk.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)160/28,29 : Scheome and pine..beoð þe two leddre stalen [Corp-C: steolen; Tit: steles] þet beoð upriht to þe heouene and bitweonen þeos stalen beoð þe tindes i vestned of alle gode þeauwes.
- (1431-2) *Mun.B.Bridgewater805 : Item, to þe house þer John Bere ys yn, to þe Plommer & a laborer & staylys, xxij d.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)2/49 : Þis ilke laddre is charite, Þe stales gode þeawis.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1002 : Jasper hyȝt þe fyrst gemme Þat I on þe fyrst basse con wale; He glente grene in þe lowest hemme; Saffer helde þe secounde stale.
c
- a1200 Gloss.Sidonius (Dgb 172)59/22 : Ansae et ansulae alicuius rei sunt illa eminentia in illa re, per quam capi possit, i. stale.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)22.279 : Stale [Hnt HM 137: Spiritus prudencie..lerede men a ladel bygge with a long stele, That cast for to kele a crokke and saue þe fatte aboue].
d
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.194 : They smyteth out the heed of skeppis smale, And donged molde in hit they wol dispense, And theryn do pistacis iij by tale, And of hem all vp wol ther ryse a stale [L germen].