Middle English Dictionary Entry
wāle n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | wāle n.(2) Also wal(le, (in early place name) wala; pl. wales, etc. & waleis, walus, (early) walen. |
| Etymology | OE walu a ridge, bank & the mark left by a blow, a wheal. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Naut. A plank or timber nailed to the outer surface of the side of a ship, a strake, wale; a beam or timber designated for use as a wale; also, a set of planks or timbers fastened atop the sides of a boat, the gunwale; ~ pece (stok), a piece of wood cut to serve as a wale; fot ~, q.v.; gonne ~, the upper edge of the sides of a boat or ship, gunwale; men of the ~, ?mariners, sailors; within the ~, aboard ship;
(b) the raised mark left by a blow from a rod, lash, etc., a wheal; also, a sore spot produced by rubbing, a sore, callus;
(c) in surnames and place name [see Smith PNElem. 2.245].
Associated quotations
a
- (1294-5) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1111 : x d. in ij Wales emptis, de Anselm’ Carpent’.
- (1336-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1111 : In vj lignis emptis ad eandem pro Wales et bindes inde faciendis…vj s.
- (1347-50) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1112 : En xxxvij piec’ de mesrime achat’ pour wale piecen, walestokez, et fotwalen.
- (1422-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1111 : Pro v longis peciis maeremij pro revesynges et walys inde habendis precium in grosso vj s. viij d.
- (1432-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1111 : In vadiis…sarrancium…knowes, waleys, byndyngz…pro eadem Balinger Regis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)514 : Wale, of a schyppe: Ratis.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)493 : With þe men of þe walle they weyde vp þeire ankers.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)740 : Wyghtly on þe wale þay wye vp þaire ankers.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12062 : Þer myghte men se þe mariners…Bowlyne on bouspret to sette & hale, Cordes, kyuiles, atached þe wale.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.642 : He hadde plentyuously all þe grete graces Whiche kepe a man from alle þe bitter peynes bale…as with-inne the wale Of a stronge ship a man is bore a-loft.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57205 : Item, the same day my mastyr paid to Roger Fuller for tymbre for colers of the maste and gonne walles, xx d.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)514 : Wale, or strype after scornynge [read: scourynge; Win: stonyng], idem quod strype, supra.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)103 : J keepe him that he haue no peyne and that ther be no wales [F galeus] in the hondes.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)113/20 : I for þy loue haue myn armes sprad on þe tre…I haue my body for thy loue full of gret walus.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)13/69b : Vibex: wale.
c
- (1188) EPNSoc.59-60 (Dor.)383 : Holewala.
- (1194) EPNSoc.59-60 (Dor.)383 : Holewal.
- (1196) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames368 : Richard de Wale.
- (1251) EPNSoc.59-60 (Dor.)383 : Holewale in Blakemore.
- (1296) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames368 : Philip atte Wale.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames219 : Pho ate Wale.