Middle English Dictionary Entry
vulcān(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vulcān(e n. Also vlcan(e, walcane; pl. wlcanes. |
| Etymology | OF volcan, vulcan, wlcan & L Volcānus, Vulcānus fire. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A vent in the earth’s crust from which molten rock, fire, steam, etc. are released, a volcano;
(b) a name applied to the Aeolian or the Lipari Islands; ile of ~, prob. the island of Volcano in the Aeolians.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)36/6 : In þat Ile [Sicily] is the Mount Ethna…& the wlcanes [F wlcans] þat ben eueremore brennynge.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)36/12,13 : From Itaille vnto the wlcanes nys but xxv myle…the wlcanes ben weyes of helle.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.319 : Þe same nyne ilondes hatte vlcane [Higd.(2): Walcane; L vulcane], that is, ‘fuyre’, for fire brenneþ þere all wey.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)758/5 : Eola is an ilonde of Cicilia…Þe iles…clepide Eole…ben also yclepede Vlcane [L vulcane], for fuyre brenneþ þereynne.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.11 : Theodoryk…to his dampnacioun…was led, and…In þe yle of vlcane [vrr. vulcane, vlcan, vulcan] was he casten…Þat full is of a…flaumbe of hell.