Middle English Dictionary Entry
vilein n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vilein n. Also vileine, villein, vilain(e, villain, velein, velaun. |
| Etymology | OF vilain, villain, vilein(e, villein, velein, AF vilan n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An unfree tenant holding land in villeinage or doing villein service; a bondsman; ?also, a villein service or a portion of land of villein status [quot. 1470]; also [quot. ?a1425], ?a resident of a village; ?a subject; ~ regardant, a villein attached to a specific manor;
(b) one who is low-born, a commoner; also, one who lacks the manners of a gentleman, a boor; a scoundrel, a rascal;—also coll. [quot. a1425];
(c) as term of contemptuous address;
(d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.56b : Also lith assise after excepcion of villenage ȝif þat vileyn vnder his louerdes power purchasede ani lond.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)127/30 : The kyng of þat contrey…hath…Olifauntz…þat he maketh for to ben brought vp amonges his vileynes [F vilains] be all his townes.
- (1443-50) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10135 : The seid John Wayte saith by protestacion that the said John Bysship is his villayn regardant to his Maner of Lee in the Counte of Sutht, and he and his auncestres, all tho whos estate John Wayte hath in the same Maner, haue been seised of the said John Bysship and of his auncestres as villeyns regardantz to the said Maner fro the tyme that no mynde is.
- (c1464) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10154 : One Herry, the Pryour of the Monastary of Ely, cleymed your seid bedeman to be his villayn in the Ryght of the monastary Sutton, whereof the seid Pryour is seysed.
- (1470) RParl.in OHS 5864 : Your seid besechers and their successours may have, hold, kepe, and enyoye…all the same Priorye, Maners, parsonages…and every parte of them what so ever to geder with all maner hundredes, letes, Courtes, wapentakes…rentys, services, sutes, Villeyns, cherches, porcions, pencions, [etc.].
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2300 : Love…makth curteis of the vilein, And to the couard hardiesce It yifth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3062 : Suche men that ben vileins, The lawe in suche a wise ordeigneth That what man to the lawe pleigneth, Be so the jugge stonde upriht, He schal be served of his riht.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2181 : I curse and blame generaly All hem that louen vilanye, For vilanye makith vilayn [F les vilains], And by his dedis a cherle is seyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2957 : Gentil blood…Is euer enclyned to merci…Wher of custum thes vileyns do ther cure…To be vengable.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)11625 : ‘What,’ quod the carl, ‘ȝif þou wylt me leve, chese; the oþer ellis thou beleve’; and [whiles] the veleyn hadde seyd al this, Evere stood sire Vlphyn and herkened…and thussone he gan for to Smyle, and knew hit was Merlyne be his wyle.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)712/25-6 : Whatsomever he be that is rewled by a vylayne borne, and the lorde of the soyle be a jantylman born, that same vylayne shall destroy all the jeauntylmen aboute hym.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10332 : I mette a cherl, a gret vyleyn.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)28/19 : He sheweth the semblaunt of a vylayne or kerle that hath passed so before ladyes without to haue salewed them.
c
- c1330 Degare (Auch)1002 : Velaun! wat dost þou here, In mi forest to chase mi dere?
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5471 : Whar art þow, Char[lis], þow vylayn?
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11557 : Goddys treytour, and ryȝt vyleyn! Hast þou no mynde of Marye Maudeleyn?
d
- (1167) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames364 : Ernald Vilein.
- (1188) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames364 : Robert Vilain.
- (1204) CRR(2) 3148 : Rogerus le Vilein.
- (1237-40) Cart.Oseney in OHS 90492 : Thoma Vileyne.
- (1255) Hundred R.Tower 278 : Hugo le Vilein.
- (1276) Hundred R.Tower 1106 : Robertus Vilein.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3113 : Johannes Vileyne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 5588 : The iii braunche of this vice is to rynne too mete too fervently as a hounde to carayne..The scripture calleth siche veleins houndes whan theye rynne too the meete as houndes too the carayne.
Note: Ed.: veleins = 'gluttons'. See Isaiah 56:9-11.
Note: New sense.