Middle English Dictionary Entry
swel(le n.
Entry Info
| Forms | swel(le n. Also swele & (in place name) suwel, sowel. |
| Etymology | From OE geswel, (in place name) swelle & ME swellen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A morbid swelling in the body or a bodily part; also fig.; (b) in surname and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.171].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/19 : Ða he him to com þa iseah he hu swiðlice he wæs mid þam swelle iwæced, ðæt he nan þing iseon ne mihte ac him þe licame al toblawen wæs.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)123/19,21 : Auh drinc þeonne atterloðe & drif ðene swel aȝeanward urommard ðe heorte..& ðe swel [Pep: swellyng] schal setten.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)66/1432 : He..usede sinne sodomiȝte; So long he pleiede wiȝ ȝong man, A swele in his membres cam þan.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)54b/b : Men leten blode for diseses of þe yȝen, of þe veines þat ben aboute þe yȝen, and off þe tunge, ffor bocches and swelles [L flegmonibus] þat ben aboute þe parties of þe necke.
b
- (1183-4) Pipe R.Hen.II55 : Tedricus atte Suele.
- (1221) EPNSoc.38 (Glo.)226 : Suelle; Suwell'; Swell; Swelle.
- (1291) EPNSoc.38 (Glo.)226 : Sowell'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. swell.