Middle English Dictionary Entry
tikel adj.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tikel adj.(1) Also tikil, ticle, tekel, -il, -ul. |
| Etymology | From tikelen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Ticklish; also, overly sensitive to minor irritants; also, fig. fastidious, squeamish, nice; (b) lascivious; ~ tail, a loose woman; (c) uncertain, changeable; also in fig. context; (d) joyous, buoyant.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)493 : Tykyl: Titillosus.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)212 : Whi schulde ȝe thanne be so tikil and so squaymose, and holde for an inconvenient, in mater of clergie forto folowe the clergie?
- a1475 Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)31 : For a hawke þt is tykyll in þe fote whan it is nyȝth: Take a handfull of rede nettyllis and tey hyr apon hem all nyȝth.
b
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.120 : She is tykil [vrr. tekel, tekul] of hire tail, talewys of hire tunge, As comoun as þe cartewey to knaue & to monk.
- a1450 Loke er þin herte (Sln 2593)p.271 : Madenys..be bothe fals and fekyl, And vnder the tayl they ben ful tekyl.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)126/64 : Such a ȝonge damesel..of schap so comely..Of hire tayle ofte tyme be lyght, and rygh tekyl vndyr þe too.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.31 : Canst thou no better come to holynesse Than lese thiself al for a tikeltaylle?
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3428 : This world is now ful tikel sikerly: I saugh today a corps yborn to chirche That now on Monday last I saugh hym wirche.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.903 : Who happeth hym to be fals and fekell, His clymbyng is full slepre and ticle.
d
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13413 : When y byþenke on ȝoure godnesse..ffor þat ioye myn herte ys tykel.