Middle English Dictionary Entry
thral n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | thral n.(1) Also thral(l)e, threl(le, tharl(l)e, therl, (early) þreal & (in names) thrail, threle-, threli-, thril(le)-, therlle-, thirl-, trelle-, treuel-, therhe-, thir-; pl. thral(l)es, etc. & thrallus, (early) þrallen, þrealles, þrelan & (error) thalles. |
| Etymology | OE þrǣl & ON: cp. OI þræll. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A person obliged to serve someone else: a slave, servant, serf;—also coll.; also fig.; bonde ~; nimen to ~, to enslave (sb.); sellen in-to thralles (a ~), sell (people) for slaves, sell (a person) for a slave; (b) a subject; also, a subject nation; (c) a person of low degree, a wretch; an inferior; also, a prisoner, captive;—also coll.; ?also, a servile person [quot. a1500(1422)]; (d) the state of slavery, servitude; sellen to ~, to sell (sb.) into slavery [may belong to (a)].
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)105/14 : Ne go ðu noht in to dome mid ðine þralle [L seruo], forðan all ðat is liues on heuene and on ierðe ne mihte bien irihtwised onȝeanes þe.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)28/456 : He..tukeð þe to bismere, as huler his hore, beateð þe & busteð þe, as his ibohte þrel & his eðele þeowe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)69/3 : Hwen ȝe al habbeð wel idon..seggeð þet ȝe beoð unnete þrealles.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4994 : Ȝeorne heo hine beðen, þurh his æd-meden, þat he nomen heom to þrallen [Otho: paise] & heo him wolden þiwien.
- c1275 Hwan þu sixst on leode (Clg A.9)10 : Hwan þu sixst..Child un-þeaud, Þral vn-buxsum..Wo þere þeode.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3720 : Betre is vs get we wenden a-gen And in egipte ðralles ben.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.51 : Alle þe þralles [vr. tharle] & þe free hidden hem in dyches & in roches.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.7.4 : Wolde god in to þrallis..wee weren sold.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.104.17 : In to a þral [WB(2): a seruaunt] Joseph is sold.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.772 : In somme contrees ther they ben thralles, whan they han turned hem to the feith, they maken hire thralles free out of thraldom.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.183 : A knyght called Virginius..Holdeth My seruaunt, which that is my thral by right.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.74 : He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste, And leith him drunke be the wal, As him which is his bonde thral And al in his subjeccion.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.155 : An housbonde wol I haue..Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15292 : Þis suete iesus..boghed sua his lauerdhede To buxumnes o threll [Göt: therll].
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.57 : To bigge watir ne wynd ne wyt..Ne wolde neuere holy writ..Þise þre for þrallis [vrr. thrall, thalles] ben þrowe among vs alle.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8001 : Þai salle be stresced in helle als thralle.
- a1425 PPl.C (Cmb Ff 5.35)2.29 : Þrallus [Hnt HM 137: In hus glotenie [Loth] by-gat..churles].
- c1450 Al holy (Eg 3307)p.62 : Al Holy Chyrch was bot a thrall Thorgh kyng and temperal lordys all.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.21 : God formyd the [soul] after his owne ymage..And ordent the body bothe in ȝoughetȝ and age To be thy thral, thy servant, and thi page.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)356/30 : Yif he hadde levyd, he had mad vs his thrall.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)48/25 : The peple of Isræl were thralles and seruyde vnto the Babilones.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3010 : Þe king..Nom of him sikernesse to be is þral euere mo..Biside scotlond hom ȝef an place..To wonie þer inne in þralhede.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.600 : Gret trouage Inglond schal ous ȝeld, & euermore ben our þral.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)123 : Ure drihten..makede us..of þrelan, his ahȝene bern.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)83 : Yef þou art of þrelles [vr. þraldom], ic yeue þe gold ant fee.
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)187 : Nolde hit sone do for vader..Vre alre louerd for vs þrelles ipyned wes on rode.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)25/424 : Ihc am ibore to lowe Such wimman to knowe..Hit nere no fair wedding Bitwexe a þral & a king.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)67/28 : Þis zenne is ine uele maneres ase..Ine poure aye þe riche, and þe þrelles aye þe knyȝtes.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2416 : It war a misaventure Þat so gentil a creature Sold ever so foul hap byfall To be defouled with a thrall.
- a1425 Primer (Add 36683)108 : Thou fouche saaf to biholde and releeue the meselis of pore men and thrallis [L captivorum].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4180 : Of al the thrallis in the toun duellyng..He made hem alle..Withynne..Cartage To keepe hem cloos..Ageyn the cite hymsilff to fortefie.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6549 : Squyers doughtres, & frankelayns, to gyue hem to knyghtes & to swaynes, Oþer maidens comen of þralles, To be maried as þem falles.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)175/115 : How schulde I þan, þat is a thrall, Giffe þe baptyme, þat rightwis is, And has ben euere?
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)224/9 : Onsemely eighen and frouncet, the hede bowynge towarde the ryght syde, knelynge to euery man for noght..bene tokenys of the thralle.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)79/31 : Let hym be besie in prayers and do large almes dedes, ȝif that he may, þrouȝ fedynge of pore men and byinge of the þrall oute of prison.
d
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)104.16 : Joseph was solde to þral [vr. þraldom] þurth hem.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)6304 : Moises þe folk..lad..out of þe þralle [Vsp: thainhed; Trin-C: seruage] of pharaon.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)110/3 : All þe folk of Tartre was in subiecciun and thrall till oþer naciouns about þam.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)892/13 : The Sonne of the Hyghe Fadir..bought all the soules oute of thralle.
- c1450 Trental St.Greg.(1) (Clg A.2)226 : An oþur oryson he moste say..That helpeth sowles out of þralle.
- 1600(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2013)7/149 : My counsell is that..you bringe not yourselves in thrall.
2.
(a) A slave or bond-servant of God, Christ, or the Virgin Mary; one who follows Christian precepts; also, coll. the creatures of God; (b) a slave of the devil, demons, etc.; (c) a slave to Cupid; also fig.; also [last quot.], a slave to a loved one;—used of the heart; (d) fig. a slave to riches, sin, the world, etc.; erthe ~, a person enslaved by earthly pursuits.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)53/32 : Ecce ancilla domini, 'Loke hier..godes aȝen þralle.'
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)28/26 : Ich am godes þeowe & his þrel to don al þet his deore wil is.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)194/38 : Hit is more fraunchise to beon gode schulchene oþer is þral þane king oþur Iustise.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.196 : Lyk a bisy bee, with outen gyle, Thee serueth ay thyn owene thral Cecile.
- c1390 Bi a wey (Vrn)102 : God maade boþe Mon and wyue..we ben his þral.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20018 : I am and euer sal be hir thrall.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)48/23 : In alle þi werkis lete þiself vnworþi, ydil, & vnnayte þralle to þi Lord Ihesu Crist with alkyns mekenes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)51/247 : I was fful buxvm evyn as þi thralle.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)135/27 : Hit is of dieule; Ȝif ðu him teiþest, þu makest ðe seluen þrall, and noht mannes, ac deules.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)75 : Becom hi beþ þe deuil is þralle, Niȝt and dai hi libbiþ in sore.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)19/16 : He deþ manhode to þe dyeule and becomþ his þrel.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)16794 : Þu lat þaim noght þat þu sua boght bicum þe feindes thrall.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)98 : How hath the feend thee blent..art thow his thral?
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)11/39 : We þoruȝ oure waried synnes departiden oureself fro hym & bicome þrallis to þe loþely feendis of helle.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.277 : Hoso doth synne, he is seruant of synne & þral to þe fend.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.439 : In hym ne deyned spare blood roial The fyr of love..But held hym as his thral lowe in destresse.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)767 : I have..yive rente To Love..And throgh plesaunce become his thral.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.39 : Can I noght elles fynd, bot gif that he [Love] Be lord, and as a God may lyve and regne, To bynd and lous, and maken thrallis free.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.41 : No wonder was..That sudaynly my hert become hir thrall.
d
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)47 : Sunne dei..hafð mid hire þreo wurdliche mihte..ðet forme mihte is þet heo on eorðe ȝeueð reste to alle eorðe þrelles, wepmen and wifmen, of heore þrel weorkes.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)6/29 : Bitacneð þis tur þe hehnesse of meiðhad, þe bihald as of heh alle widewen under hire ant weddede baðe, for þeos ase flesches þrealles beoð i worldes þeowdom & wunieð lahe on eordðe.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/83 : Nim þe to þe worlde &..þu..schalt beo sare ideruet under hire as hire þreal.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)86/24 : Hi ne byeþ þrelles ne to gold ne to zeluer ne to hare caroyne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.146 : Ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman maken of his body than for to yeue his body to synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.54 : He..Bot is unto his good a thral, And as soubgit thus serveth he, Wher that he scholde maister be.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1064 : Many..mas þam-selfe þe worldes tharlles.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)14/211 : Þei hem-silf ben þrallis in synne and seruauntis of fleischli corrupcioun.
- a1500 As I walkyd vppon (Hnt HM 183)47 : Superbia he is the principall..To hym I haue had lechis a-levyn And þey haue geve medycyns all; Butt þe soveraynest medicyn..Humilitas I hurd a lech hit call..God, send [hit] me thatt [am] syke thrall [vr. tharlle].
3.
(a) As surname; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.226].
Associated quotations
a
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1833 : Willelmus le Thral.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms52 : Ric. le Threl.
- a1385(1353) Cust.Chichester in Sus.RS 3170 : Richard Threl.
- (1428) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms52 : Ric. Threell.
- (1480) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms52 : Joh. Threle.
b
- (1197) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Trellekell'.
- (c1220) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Therhekelde.
- (c1230) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thrailkelde.
- (c1235) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Therllekelde.
- (1246) in Ekwall PNLan.149 : Threliffall.
- (1258) in Ekwall PNLan.150 : Threlefal.
- (1271) in Ekwall PNLan.150 : Treuelfal.
- (1278) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thirkelde.
- (1324) in Ekwall PNLan.150 : Trellefalle.
- (c1345) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thrillekeld.
- (1392) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thyrlkel.
- (1426) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thrilkeld.
- (1453) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)252 : Thirlkeld.