Middle English Dictionary Entry
thresh-wōld(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thresh-wōld(e n. Also threshwole, threshewold(e, thresch-, -wald(e, threschewold, threscwold(e, threswold, -uold, -wald, threxwolde, thriswold, -wald, thros-, therswalde, treschwald, (early) þreoxwold & thresh(e)fold, thresch-, threschefold(e, threishfold, threis-, thresfol, threxfold, thrashe-, throschfold(e, throsfold, tresh-, dreschfolde & threshold, threshald, threscholde, thressold, thrisheholde, throschald, throssold, therschold & (errors) trefold, freswald, threehewgll; pl. thresholdis, etc. & throshfoldes. |
| Etymology | OE þerscold, þerscwold, ðærsc-, þirscwald, þrescold, þrexwold, þræx-, þreox-; 1st element related to OE þerscan (cp. ME threshen v.), but origin of 2nd element unknown. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The sill of a doorway, a threshold [1st quot. could also be construed as (c)]; also, ?a pine board used as a threshold [quot. a1425, last]; ~ of dore, dore ~; nether ~, the doorsill as opposed to the lintel; (b) the entrance to a building [some quots. may belong to (a)]; holi thresholdis of the apostles peter and poule, the tomb and basilica of Saints Peter and Paul; (c) the upper horizontal beam of a doorway, a lintel [cp. overthresh-wold n.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)551/32 : Limen: ofersleie, uel þreoxwold.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)983 : La lyme [glossed:] therswalde.
- a1325 SLeg.Bridget(2) (Corp-C 145)67 : Vpe þe þres- uold heo uel adoun & hadde child riȝt þer.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.12.22 : Þe lytyll sprynkill of ysope wetiþ in blode, þat is in the neþer þreschwald [vr. threswold; L limine] & sprengiþ of it þe ouer þreschwald.
- (1384) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.142 : [John Marchant found a basinet full of gold and silver under a] thresshold [in a hay-barn at Holmannes in Billerica and hid it].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.288 : She wolde ouer hir thresshfold [vrr. dreschfolde, throswald, þresshewolde] gon.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.198 : He stumblide on þe þresshewold [vrr. þrexwolde, þresfold, throschfold, throsfold, þresshald, threswald, freswald, þrosschald, therschold; C: þreshefold; vrr. þrescwolde, treshfold] & fel to þe erþe.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)203/19 : Þes wordis..Þou shalt write hem on þi þroshfoldes and dores of þin hous.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)12a/a : Cardo: a þresfol of a dore.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)37b/b : Limes: a þresfolde [Pep: a dore threshwolde; Cnt: a thrasshefold]; Limen: idem.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)64b/a : Teda: a þrexfold [Pep: thressh wole] or a brond.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.77 : Thei passeden sorwfully the thresschefold.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.41/23 : A yonge hefker alone..Lay yn thryssheholde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)492 : Threschwolde [Win: Threscholde]: Limen.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)29/27 : On a day Aglaros was sette on the thresscholde of the dore.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)112/31 : He come with-in þe thresshwold of þe dure.
- (1455-6) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : For makyng of the Threehewgll [?read: Threshold] to the porche, ix d.
- (1458) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32638 : Payd for the thresshold at the West dorre, viij d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)127b/a : A Threschwalde: limen, liminare.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.327 : Þu schal writyn is [vr. hem] in þe treschwald & in þe doris of þin hous.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)3.9.54b : Noght be the dore but vnder the threschwold drawe owt.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)10/61b : Cardo, duno [?read: -dinis]: a trefold [read: tresold].
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)8 : Limina: thresschefolde.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)733/8 : Limen: thryswold.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)33/12 : A charme..syte a-ryȝt vpon þe þroschfolde and make a sygne of þe croyse.
- -?-(?a1500) Hunt.Hare (Adv 19.3.1)260 : Thei myghtt not passe the dure threscwold.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 14.17 : Sche wente in þe þresshold [vr. threshwold] of þe hous.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3222 : At þe last he come to þe thriswald.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.9.3 : The glorie of the Lord of Israel was takun vp fro cherub, which glorie was on it, to the threisfold of the hous.
- (1440) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23233 : I receyved also by the hondes of the said gentilmen a procuraty to visit in yowre name the holy thresshaldes of the Apostells Petur and Paule.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.72 : Jubiter two tonnes had bestowe, Wiþ-yn the threschfold [vrr. thressold, throssold, þreyshfold] of his celar [Chaucer Bo.: in the entre or in the seler of Juppiter; L in Iovis limine] laied.
c
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)461 : Al hoes couient suz-lyme: To the dore be-houeth thresschewold.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.12.7 : Þei schullen take of his blode & leggen apon eyþer post & in þe þreschwaldis [L superliminaribus] of þe housis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.6.4 : To-moued ben þe thresholdis [WB(2): lytels; L superliminaria] of þe heenglis fro þe voice of þe criende.