Middle English Dictionary Entry
stǒupaille n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stǒupaille n. Also stoppaile, (error) storpaile. |
| Etymology | OF estopaille, estoupail(l)e; for sense (b) cp. OF estoper, estouper to cover (sth.) & F dial. estoupail a cover or lid. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stoppel n.
1.
(a) A stoppage; maken ~ of, to stop up (a hole), plug; (b) ?a covering; -- used in phrase: in ~, on the outside, in public.
Associated quotations
a
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24110 : Of grace thou shalt not faille, So that thou make a stoupaille of the hooles that apon [vr. open] be in thyn handes..this to mene..that playn and hool be thyn entent.
b
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)161 : I ride a wunderful hors, For there..as is most filthe there..he leith him..Bi him j am thus soiled..Thus in storpaile [vr.(marg.) stoppaile; F abstracto] foule j am but in hideles [vr. coverte; F concreto] j am michel foulere, And therfore j bere a peynted fauce visage for to make ther of couertour to my visage ful of filthe.