Middle English Dictionary Entry
walm(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | walm(e n. Also welme, (N) whalme & (in place names) wilmes-, waume(s)-, wames-, waunce-, wanes-. |
| Etymology | OE wilm, welm, wælm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A gushing or bubbling forth of water; a spring, stream; also, the water of a spring or well;
(b) a surging bubble in a boiling liquid, the bubbling of a liquid heated to the boiling point; boillen a (ones a, with o) ~, to bring (a liquid, ingredients) just to a boil, heat until or as long as there is one rolling bubble; yeven god walmes, let (a liquid) boil at a good rolling boil, boil thoroughly;
(c) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.253].
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)141 : Sunnedei siriat [read: smat] Moyses þene stan…and þe stan to-chan and fouwer walmes of watere sprungen ut þer of.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3592 : Al to-hewe was his helme, Þe blod ran out als a welme.
- c1380 Vncomly in (Arun 292)29 : Me is wo so is þe be þat belles in þe walmes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.429 : At Basyngwere is a welle…In þe welmes ofter þan ones Is y-founde reed splekked stones.
b
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)112/2327 : Þou hast…A gret boiland cauderoun Wiȝ seuen walmes boiland.
- a1350(a1325) SLeg.Cec.(Ashm 43)231 : Me caste hire In þe seþende water…Wiþ þe walmes [Ld: welmes] heo sat & pleide & prechede of godes grace.
- c1400 Sln.468 Cook.Recipes (Sln 468)86.18/3 : Tak figges & reysenes…& boyle hem in a pot with a litel ale ones a walm.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2739 : Sir…þir walmes [7S(1): boilouns] seuyn Ȝowre seuyn maysters bitakens euyn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94b/b : Be þer made a bagge of 3 parties of Roses & 1 of mirtilles; And boile hem in water wiþ o walme [Ch.(2): boyllinge; L feruore].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)70/16 : When all thir thynges ere wele stampede samen…do þer-to white wyn &…do it vn-to þe fire & sethe it wele & gyf it gude walmes.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)72/34 : Wrynge owte all þe jus thurgh a clene clathe & do it in a clene pane ouer þe fire & boile it a whalme.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)56.397 : That water that Cold was before…with grete walmes it boyllede so faste that the dewkes hondis it brende.
c
- c1200(972) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)245 : Æt Wylmesforda.
- (1210) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)245 : Waumeford.
- (1224) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)198 : Walmesford.
- (1253) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)246 : Waumesford.
- (1275) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames225 : Henr. atte Welme.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)246 : Wamesford.
- (1332) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames225 : Steph. atte Walme.
- (1346) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)246 : Wanesford.
- (1362) in Sundby Dial.Wor.182 : Le Walmes.
- (1428) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)245 : Walmesforde.
- (1464) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)246 : Waunceford.
- a1500(?1184) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)198 : Walmesford.
2.
?Fire, flame [cp. Bosworth-Toller, s.v. wilm n., sense 2.]; ?death [= qualm n.(1), sense (c)].
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11040 : Wulc mon swa wurs dude þeneþe king hafde iboden He wolde hine ifusen to ane bare walme.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: As regards the doubtful sense 2., Bzdl's translation ('Would be burned alive') supposes the word to belong to walme rather than qualm ; -- in either case, bare appears to serve as an almost meaningless intensifier (see bar adj. 14.(a) 'to the bar deth.'
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 148/26 : Let hyt boyle bote .ij. oþer .iij. walmys; after þat sette hyt don.
Note: = 'boilings (instances boiled)' Additional quot., prob. sense 1.(b).