Middle English Dictionary Entry
wamelen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | wamelen v. Also wamel(on, wamil(le, wam(b)len, wemelen; p. womblede. |
| Etymology | Prob. from ON: cp. Icel. vamla, Norw. vamle to become sick & Norw. vamla ?to stagger (see OD wamble v.); also cp. MDu. wemelen to shake, become agitated. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To feel nausea; ?also, retch or vomit; ppl. wamling as adj.: producing or accompanied by nausea, nauseous;
(b) ~ and tumblen, to heave oneself about, roll around.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1091 : Cil qui trop laumbei [glossed:] wamblez [vr. wameleth] au quer Sovent li estent escouper.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)268 : Homme lambeie pur ordure: M. wemelith for fulthe.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)300 : Euer walteres þis whal bi wyldren depe…þat mote in his mawe mad hym…to wamel at his hert.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)2.85/9 : It bihoueþ þat he eschewe grosse metez & drinkez of colde water & wamlyng [vr. wamblinge] fulnez & replecioun [L nauseatiuam sacietatem & replecionem].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)515 : Wamelon [Win: Wamelyn], yn the stomake: Naus[e]o.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)135b : To Wamyll [Monson: Wamylle]: Illiacare, Nauseare.
b
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3213 : When þat litull chylde was leyde a-doune…In his bedde…He womblede & tomblede on bak & wombe, & lowde he cryed.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Dominic (GiL106) (Eg 876) 540/78 : Ye wolde haue dismembrid me membre from membre and thanne leyde my membres before my syght, and atte the laste that ye hadde putte oute myn eyen and so lefte my body al tohewen halff quicke wamelynge in his owne bloode.
Note: Editor: "wamelynge: toullier Ps, uolutari LgA, 'twisting around'...this belong to sense (b), 'roll around', for which the only citation is dated a1450."
Note: Additional quote, sense (b).
Note: ?Modity sense, removing ~ and tumblen stipulation.