Middle English Dictionary Entry
tonnel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tonnel n. Also tonel(e, tonelle, tunnele, tenel(e; pl. tunal. |
| Etymology | OF tonel(e, tonnel(le, AF tunnel, tunail & ML tunnellus, ton(n)ellus, AL tenellus, -a; sense (d) may be an assimilation of ME tǒnne-mẹ̄le n. (b) to this word. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. tonne n.
1.
(a) A barrel for liquids or solids, cask, tun; ~ hop; ~ tre, ?a barrel stave; (b) a net for catching partridges or other birds; (c) ?a chimney shaft; (d) a strainer or colander.
Associated quotations
a
- (1341-2) Sacrist R.Ely 2117 : In iiij staues pro uno tonele et iij tonelehopes, 2 d.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : 1 Tonel Syther, ij d.; 1 Tonel Bark, ij d.
- (1401) *Acc.R.Abbotsbury : Un Toneltre, un ferepike.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4580 : Pro j tonnell, et pro j tubb pro lotione ciphorum.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)489 : Tenel [Win: Tenele], vessel: Tenella.
b
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)32/28 : A tonel driueþ perdriches to a prisoun.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)496 : Tonel, to take byrdys: Obvolutorium.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)14/26 : Þe partriche which in fleing from the horse..fallith into the tonelle.
c
- (1360) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.353 : Pro iij tunall, emptis pro bretissinge super portam de Ugelforde.
d
- a1500 *Medulla (Hrl 2270)21a/a : Collatorium: a tunnele [Stnh: a tunmele].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. tunnel.