Middle English Dictionary Entry
stalk(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | stalk(e n.(1) Also (error) stake. |
| Etymology | Prob. from stāle n.(3); cp. ODan., OSwed. stiælke, Norw. dial. stalk. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The stalk of a plant; the trunk of a tree; also fig.; -- also coll.; a shoot of a vine [quot.: ?a1425(c1380)]; a piece of straw [quot.: c1390 CT.Rv.]; ?a reed [quot.: 1440]; on ~ and ston, at every turn, frequently; (b) the stem of a piece of fruit; a nut; (c) ?error for stak n.; ?error for stouke n.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.41.5 : Seuen eeres burgound in o stalk full & feyr.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1036 : That Emelye..fairer was to sene Than is the lilie vpon his stalke grene.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.114 : Of the roote of contricioun spryngeth a stalke that bereth braunches and leues of confessioun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3919 : He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke, But in his owene he kan noght seen a balke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)250b/b : The myddil stalk of an herbe oþer of a tree hatte tirsus, and hath þat name for it ryseþ out of þe eorþe and springeþ vpward.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)252b/a : A tree haþ rynde in stede of skynne, and stok or stalk in stede of bones.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.39 : Þanne is flessh a feel wynde in flouryng-tyme Þorgh lecherie..so loude he gynneþ blowe, Þat hit..al for-bit caritas to þe bare stalke.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.968 : Floures, thorugh the cold of nyght Iclosed, stoupen on hire stalke [vr. stalkes] lowe, Redressen hem ayein the sonne bright.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)15b : Caule is a comyn erbe..ete of þe pithe of þe stalkys and hit kepiþ one from dronknesse.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.6.15 : Yif thou desirest..grapes, ne seek thou nat with a glotonos hand to..presse the stalkes of the vyne [L palmites] in the first somer sesoun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)175a/a : Be þai brissed & stamped with lye of asshes of stalkez [Ch.(2): steles; L truncorum] of benez.
- ?a1440 Hortus (Brist-U)273 : Culmus a quele, or a stalk of straw.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)472 : Stalke: Calamus.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)154/14 : Leuerewourt..growith in bankys of water..þis herbe haȝt non stalkys ne flour.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)28/387 : Now stomble we on stalk and ston, my wyt a-wey is fro me gon.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)111b/a : Or ellis þou myȝt aserchen a comoun wounde or a symple wiþ a stalke of a malowe.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)108/34, 109/2 : We belevyn ryght as þe stalke of þe lyly grouyþ..and aftyr bryngyth forthe a whitte flowre wythout..any enpayryng of þe stake [read: stalke], ryȝt soo our lady conceyuet of þe Holy Gost, and aftyr broght forth hor sonne wythout wem of hyr body.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)3/19 : Take goud englis woldes and take..þe route..and þrow awey þe stalkys.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)211 : Oustez l'estiche, [glossed:] stalk, e la parure, Si lur donez la morsure, La pepinere vous engettez, E les pepines le plauntez.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)208b/b : Som fruyte hangeþ by a stalke [L stipite].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)213a/a : Bitwen þe tree and his fruyt is a stryng oþir a stalke [L retinaculum] wherby þe fruyt cleueþ and hongeþ.
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)113/372 : If..þe fyke be gret aboue & smal bi þe bodi as a stalke of a walnote, take þen v silken þredus, [etc.].
c
- c1480 *Medulla (Pep 2002)19b : Archonius: a stalke [Stnh: a reke or stak of corne]. Archonivm: a stalke [Cnt: a shok or a stouke of corne].
2.
(a) The shaft of a feather or quill; also, a feather [last quot.]; (b) the shaft of an arrow or other missile; (c) the stem of a table fork; (d) one of the uprights of a ladder.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55a/a : 2a. maner is suture incarnatyue made wiþ nedilez, or wiþ þe stalke [L asta] of a feþer broȝt in wiþ nedele.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)192/26 : Incarnatyf sewynge is made..wiþ euen pynnes made of smalle and wel-beten towgh, of lengþe of a fynger, or of a stalke of a feþer.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)208 : Tak afeþer & put in to þe pot, & ȝyf þou may strepe þe feþer from þe stalk, þen hyt ys y nowȝ.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)183 : Men plukke stalkes out of my weengis tweyn, Some to portraye, somme to noote & write.
b
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)223/35 : In makynge þe stokke of the arwe to entre by þe hole of þe peces of towe, be þai þirstede by þe wounde by þe ministre aboute the stalke [*Ch.(1): stocke; L stipitem], and þan the maister schal drawe out þe arwe.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)75b/a : Þou schalt take þe stalke of þe schaft wiþ þin hond & drawe it out softly wiþouten violence.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)76a/b : Þou schalt take..plumaciolus..and loke þat þei ben holid yn þe myddil þat þe stalke of þe darte mowe appere þoruȝ þilke hole.
c
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61173 : j fork of silver wt a Dragouns hede holdyng up the stalk for grenynges.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3625 : His owene hand he made laddres thre, To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes Vnto the tubbes hangyng in the balkes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 81/34 : Take þi golde and gumme armonacke and grynde theym togeder, and temper hyt with vynegre, and putte them in a stelke, and wryte with them or draw.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.(a). New spelling (stelke).
Note: ?Modify sense to include feather used for writing or drawing (with Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699) quot.)