Middle English Dictionary Entry
wǒllen n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wǒllen n. Also wollon, wolland, wolne, wullin. |
| Etymology | From wǒllen adj.; cp. OE wyllen n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Cloth woven from wool, woolen cloth; also, woolen fabric as a commodity [quot. a1450]; ~ webbestere (wevere), a weaver of woolen cloth; thikke ~ wevere, a weaver of heavy or broad woolen fabric; ~ web-lome, a loom for weaving woolen cloth or for use by a wool weaver; ~ werk, the production of woolen goods, wool-working;
(b) clothing made from wool; ~ and linen parted togeder, clothing woven of a blend of wool and linen.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)111 : Heo sewed and span and kemde also boþe wullin and lynne.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)Prol.99 : I sauȝ…Baxteris & bocheris & breusteris manye, Wollene websteris and weueris of lynen.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.18 : He hiȝte þe erþe to helpe ȝow ichone of lynene, of wollene, of liflode at nede.
- (1404) in Rec.B.Nottingham 222 : Appretiatores unius wollyn weblome cum uno cam et j slay.
- (1410) in Rec.B.Nottingham 270 : Praedicta Margareta injuste detinet diversa i[nstru]menta de wollynweblome ad valentiam ij s.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.713 : Eche be hym silfe werke at liberte: Gold-smythes first & riche Iowellers…Wevers also of wolne & of lyne Of cloth of gold, damaske, and satyn.
- (c1449) Rec.Norwich 2230 : Gravours…Fullers, Thikwollenweuers.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)659 : Commoditees of it I woll entitell: Hydes and fish, samon, hake and herynge, Irish wollen and lynyn cloth, faldynge.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.157 : None of myn executorys…shall sell…vesselys or vestmentes of sylke, lynen, or wollyn…to my persone or houshold perteyning.
- (1477) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms209 : Joh. Pepir, wolenwever.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)423 : Wolland [Add: Wolle] warke: lanificium.
b
- ?c1335 Þe king of heuen (Hrl 913)32 : Man and womman…Þat ert so fair mid bigon: Linnin, wollin, glouis, and schone…Ne sal þe leue neuer a cloute.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11112 : He wered nouþer wollen [Ld: wollon; Vsp: wol] ny lynne.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1475 : Both lynen and wollen…Bad he his felawis þat þei shuld were.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)242/15 : Thei were no lynand, but wolland.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)114 : Thai weren no wolen but yf it be a pouere cote vndir thair vttermest garnement.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)471 : Herfore biddiþ god in his lawe þat his men shulden not be cloþid in wollun and lynnun partid to-gidere.
- a1500 Siege Jerus.(2) (Brog 2.1)71/37 : He werryd no lynnyn nodyr wollon…nodyr was wesseh nor baþid, but he was cloþid in heyr.