Middle English Dictionary Entry
ventail(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ventail(e n. Also ventaille, vental(l)e, ventel, vintaile; pl. ventailes, etc. & (error) ventrayles. |
| Etymology | OFventaille, ventail(e, ventalle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. aventaille n.
1.
Arm. (a) A piece of chain mail protecting the lower face, neck, and part of the upper chest, later extending around the upper back [cp. quot. a1450];
(b) the lower front piece of a helmet [a few quots. may belong to (a)];
(c) a vent or an air hole in a helmet.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.454 : His helme was of so michel miȝt, Was neuer man ouer-comen in fiȝt Þat hadde it on his ventayle.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)198/4236 : A felde him doun…And vnlacede his ventaile And tok him be þe heued anon And strok hit fro þe scholder bon.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4573 : De xx d. receptis pro uno parvo ventayle veteri, de mayle, rotundo.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)14375 : Her helmes were on her ventayles sperde.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9815 : The Sowdan…his spere than toke in hast…And throw the ventayll in his nek behynd He hym smote.
- c1450 Lydg.Guy (Harv Eng.530)364 : He sparid not the geaunde ffor to assaylle, On whos liffte shouldre he smote…Vnder the bourdoure of his ventayle.
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)8354 : A-boute his neke a faire ventaile She did lace.
b
- (1391) Will York in Sur.Soc.4151 : Basenett cum ventayll.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : A Basenet with vyntayle, j d.
- (1411) EEWills19/4 : A basynet with a ventaile.
- 1437 in Meyrick Anc.Armor 2126 : Arma in primis v galee cum v umbrells et iiii ventells.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)408 : He lyfte vpe his vesage [Dc: viser] fro þe ventalle.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.21 : He girdus to Syr Gauane Throȝhe ventaylle and pusane.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)1680 : Lybeous smote hym in the laynore On his helme so bryght, Pesawe, ventayle, and gorger Fly forthe with the helme so clere.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7030 : The duke with a dynt derit hym agayn, Þat the viser & the ventaile voidet hym fro.
c
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)703/31 : Sir Trystram gaff hym suche a buffette uppon the helme…that the bloode braste oute at the ventrayles [read: ventayles] of his helme.