Middle English Dictionary Entry
Wāles n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Wāles n. Also walez, walis, (error) wawys. |
| Etymology | OE Wealas, Walas, pl. of wealh. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The country of Wales; ?also, the principality of Wales [quot. 1449, 2nd occurrence]; north ~, northern Wales, Gwynedd; south ~, southern Wales, Dyfed; the marche(s of ~, the area of Wales lying between the principality of Wales and England, the March of Wales; also, the area of England adjacent to Wales [quot. a1387, 2nd]; also, the Anglian kingdom of Mercia [quot. c1300]; the marche(s of engelond and of ~, the area of England adjacent to Wales; also, in generalizing phrase: in engelond and in ~, everywhere;
(b) the) prince of ~, the ruler of the principality of Wales; also, the principal title given from 1303 onward to the eldest son of the King of England.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1061 : Cambrie…is þat wilde lond þat Welsce men luuieð; Sedðen hit is icleped Wales for þere quen Galoes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14934-5 : Inne Norð Wales wes a king, Cadwan þe kene; of Suð Wales, Margadud, monnen alre uæȝerest.
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (LdMisc 108)2 : Seint Kenelm…was kyng in Engelonde of þe Marche of Walis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.61 : Glowcetre…stondeþ…in þe marche of Engelond and of Wales; Schroysbury is a citee…in þe marche of Engelond and of Wales.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.187 : Kyng John…ȝaf…the lordschippe at Eylesmere in þe marche of Wales.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.544 : To Walys fledde the cristianytee Of olde Britons dwellyng in this ile.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)697 : He neȝed…in to þe Norþe Walez.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21211,21214 : Venedoce…now for northwales es tane…demeciene…es suthwales als for to mene.
- (1449) RParl.5.155a : The Shires of Hereford, Gloucestr’, and Salop…buth adjoignant to the Marches of Walys…yef eny pepull of thes saides Shires…wrongfully were taken…into Walys, or into the Marches of Walys dreven…such takyng…schuld be adjuggid grete treson.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1744 : I am glad, be Seynt Jamys of Galys, Of schrewdnes to tellyn talys…in Ingelond and in Walys.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)145/10 : Ser William Brews…had a baronye in þe march of Wales, þei clepe it Gower Londis.
- (1472-5) RParl.6.160a : By a requeste…was shewed, many and dyvers Robberies…to be…dayly comytted…in…Hereford and Shropshire…by men of the Marches of Wales to the said Shires adjoynaunt.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)19/10 : Vrbs legionum…stant yn þe marchis of Englonde and of Walis.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1224 : Lybeauus rod many a myle Among aventurus fyle Jn Yrland and yn Wales.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11484 : Lewelin prince of walis, robbede…Þe erles lond of gloucetre.
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)133 : Ȝef þe prince of walis his lyf habbe mote, hit falleþ þe kyng of fraunce bittrore þen þe sote.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.187 : Kyng John mariede his baast douȝter to Lewelyn, prince of Wales.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.102 : Henry…the worthy prynce of Walys.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)296/18 : Kyng Edwarde þe þrid made Edward, his ferst bygeten sone, Prince of Wawys [read: Walys].
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)51 : Herry the Kyngis sonne, by the assent off alle the Astatis in the parlement, was chosyn and made Prince off Walys, Duk off Cornevaylle, and Erle off Chestre, as Heyr Apparaunt to the kyng.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)128/31 : Leulyne, prince of Walis, began to rebelle.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)prol.23 : I had pete of his passion þat prince was of Walis, And eke oure crouned kynge.