Middle English Dictionary Entry
wenchel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wenchel n. Pl. wenclen, wenklen, (early SWM) wanclen. |
| Etymology | OE wencel |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A child;
(b) a girl, maiden.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3356 : Forr ȝuw iss borenn nu to daȝȝ Hælennde off ȝure sinness, An wennchell þatt iss Jesu Crist.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14665 : Godd seȝȝde þuss till Abraham; Tacc Ysaac þin wennchell & sniþ itt, alls itt wære an shep.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)171/6 : Godd…bisencte sodome & gommorre, were & wif & wenchel [Nero: children].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15891 : Uppen þan monen morð wes iwurðen; quelen þa eorles, quelen þa beornes…quelæn þa wifmen, quelen þa wanclen.
b
- a1325 SLeg.11000 Virg.(Corp-C 145)98 : Þe pope…sede he wolde into oþer lond wiþ is maidens wende; Þe cardinals were þere aȝen and sede he gan reue Wiþ fole wenclen [Ashm: wenklen; Ld: wummen] forto go and is dignete to bileue.