Middle English Dictionary Entry
talǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | talǒun n. Also taloune, talon(e & (error) talowe; pl. taloun(e)s, etc. & (late) talandes, talaundes, talauntes. |
| Etymology | OF talon, talun, AF taloun; for forms with -d- or -t- cp. ME fē̆saunt n., parchemī̆n n., etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The heel of a person's foot; (b) the hind part of the foot or hoof of an animal; (c) the hind part of an animal's footprint.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)79a/b : Wondez of þe kneez & of þe..anclez..haue a propre maner of bindyng, most about þe fote..in bygynnyng after lengþ of þe side of þe ancle, in passyng vnderneþe bi þe sole, & in voluyng aboue þe fote and bihinde þe ende of þe legge aboue þe talone, i. heele [L talonem].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)104a/a : It is to vnderstonde of gouernaunce & cure [of a dislocated elbow]..which Auicen putteþ..Rogerine putteþ a maner of a talone [vr. talowe], i. hiele, & a scoffe.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)73 : A grete hert..haþ a better sool of his foote and a bettir taloun and bettir boonys and more grete..þane hath a grete dere or an hynde.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)81 : Þe bonys of þe boor ben more nye þe talon [vr. talowne] þan þe boon of an hert.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)81 : Sowe from þe boor ȝe may know wel, for þe sowe makeþ not so good taloun as right a yong boor dooþ.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)84 : If he be abid, þane shuld the lymmer go thidere as þe hert ȝede inne and take þe scantelone of þe trace, þe which he shuld kitt of his roddes eende and lay it in þe talon of þe trace, þer as he ȝede in hardest grounde.
2.
(a) A claw or toenail of a bird, dragon, etc.; also, a representation of a bird's talon in a painting [quot. ?a1475 (?a1425), 3rd]; (b) the posterior claw of a hawk.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)131/14 : Þeise Cocodrilles..han iiij feet & schorte thyes & grete nayles, as clees or talouns.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)179/7 : O Griffoun..wil bere fleynge to his nest a gret hors..For he hath his talouns [Man.(2): nailes; F ongles] so longe & so large..vpon his feet, as þough þei weren hornes of grete oxen.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)800 : Þe worme..Commes glydande fro þe clowddez..Towchez hym wyth his talounez and terez hys rigge.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5454 : Gripis gripis of oure gomes out of gilt sadils, Tuk þam in þaire talons & titt fra þaire blonkis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.83 : There be men hauenge hedes lyke dogges..y-armede with teithe and talaundes [Trev.: nayles; L unguibus], lyffenge by hawkenge and huntenge.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.369 : Poetes feyne iij meremaydes to be in parte virgines and in parte bryddes, hauenge wynges and talandes [Trev.: clawes; L ungulas].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.37 : The kynge causede an eagle to be peyntede with iiij bryddes, thre of whom did bete the egle with theire talauntes and wynges.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)127/34 : A ravon..with his becke and his talons smote his enmye.
b
- a1450 Dur-CRO.Bk.Hawking (Dur-CRO Roll D/X/76/7)28/113 : This hawke hathe..a far enserede fote, pownsones, taloness, [etc.].
- ?a1450 Poem Hawking (Yale 163)543 : Loke furst or thei be geuen to flye, Þu cepe [read: cope] her beke lyke to a henne, Ther talons, pons, sengles, souryalles ful hy To be copyd.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf a viii/a : Ye shall vnderstande the naamys off the membries of hawkys..the grete Clees behynde..ye shall call hom Talons.
3.
(a) Naut. The sternmost part of a rudder, heel; (b) a patch of leather for mending.
Associated quotations
a
- (1294-5) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1130 : Pro vno talon ad Gobernaculum, iij s.
b
- (1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120189 : Si aliquis magister allutarius pictaciaverit aut novos talos fecerit (Anglice dictum cloutys or talons)..pro operacione cujus aliquam pecuniam vel salarium recipiet..subibit penam..ij s.