Middle English Dictionary Entry
walet n.
Entry Info
| Forms | walet n. Also walette, wallet, (error) wale. |
| Etymology | Origin uncertain; perh. from AF walet(e, though that may be a borrowing from ME. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A large pouch or purse, esp. one used by a traveler to hold food, money, documents, etc.; also in fig. context [last quot.].
Associated quotations
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.681,686 : Hood for iolitee wered he noon, For it was trussed vp in his walet [vr. walette]…His walet [vr. wale], biforn hym in his lappe, Bret ful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
- a1425 PPl.C (Hnt HM 143)10.267 : Ther ne is squier ne knyhte…That he ne wol…wedden here for here welthe and weschen on þe morwe That his wyf were wexe or a walet ful [Hnt HM 137: watel-ful] of nobles.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)514 : Walette, seek, or poke: Sistarcia, vel sistercia.
- (1424) Paston (EETS)1.20 (11/41) : j towayll, j san[ap], et j walet pro autumpno.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)174 : Somme vnthryffty bysshop…graunteth hem a generall pardoun…Erly and late to walke with lycence, With open walet ffreely in ech contre.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)135b : A Wallett: Sacculus.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)82/7 : The Cristen man…losed his walet, and ete and dronk to-gedre as moche as suffised.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)4/106 : Yet have I ensample to gadere the smale crommes and fullen my walet of tho that fallen from the borde among the smale houndes.