Middle English Dictionary Entry
birlen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | birlen v.(1) Also (late) berlen, brillen. |
| Etymology | OE byrlian; cp. byr(e)le cupbearer & beran bear. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To serve or offer (a drink); serve (a drink to sb.); serve (sb.) with a drink; often fig.; (b) to be refreshed.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15225 : All forrþi wass dæþess drinnch Allræresst brohht & birrledd Till þat Johan.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15396 : Þuss birrleþþ defell & hiss þeww aȝȝ werrse & werrse drinnchess.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15404 : & tu, lef Laferrd..Ne birrlesst tu nowwþerr þin hird ne swa, ne swillke drinnchess.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15418 : To birrlenn firrst te swete win & siþþenn bitterr galle.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)31a : To beoden him..drunch of sur galle..forte birlin [Nero: birlen] him swa.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61b : Þe luðere leche of helle..wið þet [his letuaires] birleð him ilome.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)276/6 : And bar a picher on his hande And eode wiþ þe cuppe aboute birlande.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)120 : Seruanz war at this bridale, That birled win in cupp and schal.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)121 : Than birles he thaim win waikere.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8:Horst.)89 : Þenne was to þe byrled eysyle and galle.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1511 : Swyfte swaynes..kyppe kowpes in honde kyngez to serve; In bryȝt bollez ful bayn birlen þise oþer.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1715 : Now his vessayles avyled..Bifore þe barounz hatz hom broȝt, and byrled þerinne Wale wyne to þy wenches.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)Cant.Mo.2.48 : Þe tresons of back biters..þai drynk with delite als wyne, & birles it to other mene.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Amos 2.12 : Ȝe birliden [WB(1): ȝauen wijn; L propinabitis] to Naȝareis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.25.17 : Y took the cuppe fro the hond of the Lord, and Y birlide [WB(1): helde oute drinc] to alle folkis.
- a1425 Medit.Pass.(1) (Arun 507)113 : Þou dose as þe Iues did, birles him galle to drinke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)51 : Bryllyn or schenk drynke: Propino.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.51 : Lord! whether Oxunford drinke blood and birlith [vr. birle] blood, bi sleeinge of quyke men.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)730 : In bollus birlutte þay þe wyne.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)105/19 : Brille it forth to many, for it is holsom.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)114.4 : It is a plesand drynke..it birles endles hele til all that folous his passion.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)791 : There was berlyde at þat suppere Drynke, that sethyn was bought full dere.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)292 : Sche byrlyd whyt wyne and Rede.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.38 : The buttellere of hyest heven, Whilk should byrle water of grace til ilk man wele thyrsty.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.103 : Trowe þou in Crist and studie his lawe, and þou shalt birle bi suche floodis.