Middle English Dictionary Entry
boillen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | boillen v. Also boile(n; buile(n, bullyn, bule; boili(e, bol(l)yyn. Ppl. boil(l)ing, -and, -inde, -aunt, buil(l)ing, -and, -ende, -inde, buling, bolinge. |
| Etymology | OF boil(l)ir, buil(l)ir, bol(l)ir, boulir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a heated liquid, molten metal: to be agitated, surge, seethe, boil; ~ up, rise up in boiling; ~ metal, glas, melt metal (glass) by heating; ~ a boiling, bring to a boil; (b) of a container: to be filled with a boiling liquid, boil.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)53 : Ane tonne ful of Eoyle he nam and liet it boylie faste.
- c1300 SLeg.Geo.(1) (LdMisc 108)63 : Þo þat led was al i-molte and boylede swiþe faste.
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)247 : He let hete water oð seoþinge; & þo hit boillede faste, He let nyme þis holi maide & þer amidde hire caste.
- a1350 SLeg.Juliana (Ashm 43)172,178 : Þis maide isei þis led boili..Þat led þat bolynde was, vnneþe it þoȝte hire warm.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)105 : Do yt to the fyre to boyle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2221 : Gold..Buillende hot withinne a panne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4121 : Medea..let it buile..Til that sche sawh the spume whyt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)15a/a : As a þinge þat boilith by strengthe of hete welmeþ & lepith and þroweþ and schediþ hitself al a boute.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.21 : Take oþer blode and cast in boylyng water.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)353/34 : Sett þis vessel of glas in hoot boilyng watir.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.291 : Brynston boilaunt [vrr. boyland, buylyng, boilyng].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2174 : Þe borne blubred þer-inne as hit boyled hade.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)96/12 : The water is euermore boyllynge [vr. buylland] for the gret hete.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)426 : The watur must boyle or the rapes byn put in.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)13a/b : Bones..soden & twynned wiþ boylinge water.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)43 : Bolyyn or boylyn: Bullio.
- c1450 Palladius (BodAdd A.369)1.445 : Take pitche and talgh..And seeth hem tyl thai boile up to the brynke.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)206/9 : & putt it in hate bulyng stynkand watir.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.34 : Sume with cheynnys bond the soule faste..Sume byllyd mettayl, and in his moth than caste.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)155 : With tho tweye materes boyle wel thi glas, and thi glas schal bycome nesche as past.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)19b : To bule..vide to sethe.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)12/28 : The erthe that falleth in-to that pit..ascendeþ as doþ a boylynge thynge.
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)86 : He ordeyned of boylynge oyle a tonne.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)68/13 : Do þerto red wyn..and let boyle a boylyng.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)311 : Puttes..boillinde euer-ech-on Of wallinde led.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)112/2326 : A gret boiland cauderoun, Wiȝ seuen walmes boiland.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.951 : Whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to withdrawe the fyr.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1011 : As a fornes ful of flot, þat upon fyr boyles.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)43 : Boylyn ouyr, as pottys on þe fyre: Ebullio.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2345 : A caudron..That buyles both day and nyght.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)84 : Take mary..And lete hong yn to þe boyling potte, and parboile.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)94 : Whan the potte boyleth, cast þe licour to.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)89 : Whos soule a holy man sey, whan it was put in a boiling pot in helle.
2a.
(a) To cook (food) by boiling; prepare (remedies or their ingredients) by boiling; ~ softeli, ~ sore, boil (sth.) gently, vigorously; (b) of food: to undergo boiling, cook; ~ togeder; (c) to cook (food) by baking or roasting.
Associated quotations
a
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.102 : Tak almaund mylk and boyle it wel wyth ris.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.380 : To boille the chiknes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)238b/a : If it beþ y soden oþer y boyled in water.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)41.151 : As Ony licour In vessel boylled May be.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1683 : Aloes..Soore boylled in dowset and swet wyn.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)284/924 : Kest both in a chaufere and buyle heme togedir.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)198 : Boile hem alle to geder a whyle softly.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)232 : Let hyt boyle fast, & after hyt ys half yboyled [etc.].
- a1475 Prk.Med.Miscell.(Brog 2.1)50 : Take horsdong..and bylle hit in wenegur, and make a plaster þerof.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)45 : Sethe hom [peas] forthe..Quylle þay be boylde fayre and clene.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)25 : When it is well boiled, put them in a faire vesselle.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)53/5 : Porke..that is boylid or fried.
- a1500 Sln.2584 Med.Miscell.(Sln 2584)128/18 : Boile hem into þe half lecor be soden.
b
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)112 : Do it boyle in god breth of Buf.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4130 : Many an herbe and many a ston..sche to builen caste hem in.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)427 : Let hit boyle togedur.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)7 : Caste þe perys þer-to and let boyle togederys.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)30/36 : Take wormode and do it in swete wyne, and lete it boyle.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.482 : The Stomach coc is for the halle, And builleth mete for hem alle.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)111 : The weche I curyd with sauge wounden in paast, & boyled in the ovene.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)16/29 : He ete no bulid meate.
2b.
To boil (cloth); treat (sth.) with heat.
Associated quotations
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2710 : Gar þam [cloths to be dyed] bule.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)224/707 : Buyle hem in an nu pot to powdre; this poudre is gode to sle the cancre.
3.
To torture (sb.) by immersion (in hot oil or molten metal); also, torture (oneself), be tortured.
Associated quotations
- a1450 St.Marg.(2) (Bod 779)292 : In oyle þou chalt ben I-boylid & þer-in þy lif lete.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)30/4 : He saw hell, & þer he saw Nero boyland hym in hate byrnand golde.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)390 : Somme..Wer hew..Asonder..Somme boylyd in oylle and led.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)857 : In a cawdron we dyd hym boyle..And so dyd we seth hym in oyle.
4.
(a) To seethe or burn (with emotion, passion, fever); ~ in herte, be ardent or fervent; iboiled in herte, contemplated with fervent love; (b) ~ herte, to arouse or inflame the heart; inflame (an organ) morbidly.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.346 : The brennynge of lecherye boyled in al his body.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1487 : Cupide..was the Sire Of the Stomak, which builleth evere, Wherof the lustes ben the levere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.915 : This lusti cokes name is hote Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote Of love buillende on the fyr.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82a/b : Wiþoute boillinge hete of fyueres.
- c1410 Mirror Sinners(1) (UC 97)437 : No sentence of hooly scripture may sauoure to the redere..but ȝef it be i-boyled in herte with bisy and brennyng studye of it.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4215 : Cedar..of malencolye And of dispit boilyng in his herte..Of verray myȝt from Castor toke his scheld.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.818 : Whiche caused hym in anger for to boille.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)39/24 : With-outen setheynge he [the lover of God] boyls, with grete desyre he loueys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)791/33 : A dolerous lady that hath bene there in paynes many wyntyrs..for ever she boyleth in scaldynge watir.
b
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)26a : The same oynement is gode for him that is hurte..oþer his bladyr by boyled.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1238 : For he boillid so his hert, he was nat wel apayde.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)162/13 : Þe wykket gost..buyluþe þat hert soo yn envy, þat hyt may haue no rest.
5.
Miscel. uses: (a) of the sea: to surge; of a stream: rush along, gurgle; of a storm: rage; of sand: whirl (up); of the earth: erupt; etc.; of a well: to flow with (sth.), disgorge; -- in fig. context; (b) of liquids, etc.: to gush forth, percolate; ~ upward, rise; spatter, foam, fizz; of speech: gush out; (c) of worms: to swarm; of disease: spread.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 41.22 : He shal make the depthe of the se to boilen [WB(2): buyle] as a pot.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.57.20 : Vnpitous men, forsothe, as the boilinge [WB(2): buyling] se that resten mai not.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 5.6 : The towns and feeldis booyleden [WB(2): buyliden] out [L ebullierunt]..and there is doon a greet confusioun of deeth in the cytee.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.1.3 : The maneres of the boylynge Eurippe..an arm of the see that ebbeth and floweth.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)16/19 : Grete wynd..þat stirres all way þe grauell and makez it to buyle vp [vr. trouble].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.3.16 : The horrible wynd Aquylon moeveth boylynge tempestes, and overwhelveth the see.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)56.437 : Evere stille boylled that welle.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)143.191 (v.2:p.422) : Farewyl .. o thryis blyssid Bartilmeu .., o .. tunge of fyir sheuynge wysdam, welle contunely bolynge vp [L emanans] helthe.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.431 : It springeth up as doth a welle..So buillen up the foule sawes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)36b/a : If kynde melancolie is y brent..if it falliþ vppon þe erþe, it boyleþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)257a/b : Strong vynegre y do vpon yren or vpon þe colde grounde boyleþ and seþiþ [L ebullit].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)300/19 : If he be not lete blood, þan þe blood þat is in him wole boile vpward.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2460 : Men miȝtten sen þere..Hertes bleden, braynes boille [vr. boyle], Heuedes tumblen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4975 : Þar trekild doun..teres of iemmes, Boyland out of þe barke, bawme & mirre.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)111/27 : My forhed is now derke and foule..That my brayne boyleth vp and flowith oute as leede.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hab.3.16 : Rott entre in to my boonys, and boyle or sprynge [L scateat] vndir me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.9.9 : Wormes buyliden out [L scaturirent] of the body of the vnpyteuous man.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.16.20 : It biganne to boyle [WB(2): buyle with; L scatere] wormes, and stonk.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(?1436) Siege Calais (Rome 1306)94 : The women..stuffed euery scaffolde..With boilled [vr. boylyng] caudrons..Yif thay wolde haue sawted the wall, Al hote to gif hem drynke.
Note: New sense
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Ashm.1438 Artist.Recipes (Ashm 1438) 259/20 : Tho make red lynnyn clothe. Take alom glas and brasyle and sethe hem togedyr, and bell in clene well water.
- ?a1425 Cmb.Dd.6.29 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.6.29) 73/5 : Take alym water and brasel and bile hem togeder.
Note: New spellings (bile & bell [poss. ?error]).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.83rb (2.13) : Be cause of þe huge hete walmand and bulyand and hurlond in þe body, þe humores in the body ar forscalt and scorclid and brende.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.87vb (3.2) : Whan þe cercle of þe vryn scheweþ him purpre, it seiþ þat 'cerebrum' is fede wiþ and fodede with blode bolyand and brennand.
Note: Additional quots., sense 1.(a). New spellings (pr. ppl.): bulyand, bolyand.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.55rb (2.7) : To hem þat haue þe stone or ar disposede to þe stone ar nocyf, i. noyouse: alle metes & drynkes þat cause grose humores..þik ale, new ale, feble ale..& longe stondand ale, or euyl boliede ale.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2a.(a). New spelling (p. ppl.): boliede.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.73rb (2.11) : In þe myddes emytrice is huge brennyng, bi cause þat colre is continuely bullyede, os a plawand pot and hurlond aboute in þe vesseiles, and fleume wiþout þe vesseiles.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (BodeMus 187:Harvey)f.3v (1.3) : When þe vryn comeþ to þe reyns be venas capillares..þer he duelleþ til he is kyndely bulede & decocte.
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: 'heated up, digested'. New spellings (p. ppl.): bulede, bulliede.