Middle English Dictionary Entry
toil(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | toil(e n.(1) |
| Etymology | AF toil(e, vars. of OF töeil. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Violent conflict, battle; also, a battle.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7989 : Þer was fiȝting, þer was toile, And vnder hors kniȝtes defoile.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8079 : In þis toil, wiþ þre þousand skete Sagremor hem com mete.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8973 : Among þis toil seiȝe king Rion Our fiue so his men slon.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2213 : Among þe toyle Hardapilon, On of Alisaunders fon, Seiȝ Theolomeu, Alisaunders stiward, Bryngen Darryes folk dounward.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1802 : So many biernez the bolde broughte owt of lyfe, Tittez tirauntez doun..and temez theire sadills, And turnez owte of þe toile, when hym tyme thynkkez.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4287 : Whenne þey had maad þis rekenyng, He gaff hys men aftire þat toyle Al þe tresore.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13813 : To tell of all þer toyle þat tyd wold take long tym or all ware told.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)1936 : He was so tuggelde in a toyle, For he werryd on the kyng of Poyle..A quarell smote hym..Thorow owt bothe bonne and brayne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6958 : Toax þat tyme þurght the toile rode..And myche wo with his weppon wroght at þe tyme.