Middle English Dictionary Entry
bōle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bōle n.(1) Also bool(e, bol(le & bule, bul(le. Pl. bōles, (early) bōlen & bules, bulles. |
| Etymology | ON, cp. OI boli, & OE *bula (whence Orm., Brut, St.Kath., etc., & MNE bull); also OE *bulla (corresp. to MDu. bulle), whence OE bulluc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bullok.
1a.
(a) A bull; fre ~, a bull free to roam with the herd [see Homans Eng.Villagers 61-3]; (b) a steer or bullock.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1296 : Forr bule lateþþ modiliʒ & bereþþ upp hiss hæfedd.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14209 : Ane hude..of ane wilde bule, þe wes wunder ane strong.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)61 : Þe riche reoðeren & schep & bule.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2438 : He rorede als a bole.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)274 : Tor: bole.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7157 : His nek is greter þan a bole, His bodi is swarter þan ani cole.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.6.2 : Ne enhaunce thou thee..as a boole [WB(2): bole; L taurus].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.445 : Ʒif a ʒong sheep, þat is Anselyn, schal be..y-ʒoked to a wylde bole, þat is William þe rede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2515 : Ouyde seith that the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.899 : Right as a free bole is ynough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun ynough for al a parisshe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)299b/a : The bole hatte Taurus and is a male roþer nouʒt y gelded..boles of ynde been reede and swifte and cruell..[the bull] is a prowde beste and heedstronge, and his moste strengþe is in þe nekke, in þe hornes, and in þe polle.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)200 : Vche manere pley..of bere baityng..of bole slatyng.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.333 : Þere ne was cow ne cowkynde..þat wolde belwe after boles.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)392 : Bukkez..and bulez to þe bonkkez hyʒed.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1682 : He hoped non oþer Bot a best þat he be, a bol oþer an oxe.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)65 : Alauntz..byn good for þe batyng of þe bole.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.723 : O Jove ek, for the love of faire Europe, The which in forme of bole awey thow fette, Now help!
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.8.32 : Maistow ben strengere than the bole?
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)29 : Beyton wyth howndys..bolys..or other lyke: Commordio, vel canibus agitare.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)43 : Boole, a beste: Taurus.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)83/35 : Vn-to Mars ʒe offere a Bare..To Iubiter a Bulle.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)31.280 : As A myhty Bole they scholden do..whanne that he is assaylled of his Enymyes present.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2307 : Meeke as a pecook, as boole wood.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13029 : Lyk a bole..Myn Eyen Rollyn in myn hed.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1441 : The bull, the ox, the cow, and eke the calf.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)221/34 : Lyones, bullis, and houndes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)210/29 : A boole lefte the flocke of his owene felaschip.
- a1525(?1423) Cov.Leet Bk.1.58 : Thei orden þat no bocher of the Cite of Couentre sle no booll, but ʒif he be baityd a-fore.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)169 : Finde ʒe mowen þere Oxene and Bolen.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)290 : My boles and my capouns al-so Beoþ yslawe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10395 : Þe bulles [vr. bolys, boles] tuelue he offrid.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)21.11 : Vmgaf me ful mani Kalues; Fat bules vmsete me on al halues.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.32.15 : Kien fourti and bullis [WB(2): boolis] twenti.
1b.
(a) Myth. The bulls that guarded the ram with the golden fleece; (b) whit boles, the bulls that drew King Lygurgus' chariot in the legend of Palamon & Arcite.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.281 : Mars..Ordeyned hath..This Ram to kepe, bolys ful vnmylde.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1432 : [The golden fleece] was kept alwey..with two boles maked al of bras, That spitten fyr.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3551 : The flees of golde..was kept by enchauntement With huge boolys of metal.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2139 : Ful hye vpon a chaar of gold stood he, With foure white boles in the trays.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3526 : Lygurgus..kam with Palamoun Ageyne his brother..Lad in his chaar with four boolys whyte.
1c.
A representation of a bull; (b) her. a figure of a bull in a coat-of-arms.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.225 : Þere was at Rome a bole of bras in þe schap of Iupiter ouercast..þat boole semed lowynge and startlinge.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3313 : A Bole of bras, And on the side cast ther was A Dore, wher a man mai inne.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)86 : The chambre..Depeynted was with white boles grete.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)48 : Pecokkis and oþir birdis, of metal ful weel gilt, and a bull in þe myddis.
b
- (a1460) Badge York in Archaeol.17 (Dgb 82)227 : The Duke of Yorke..The Bages that he beryth by the Honor of Clare ys a blacke Bolle rowgh, his Hornes and his cleys and membrys of Gold.
- (c1475) Exped.Edw.IV (Arms 2M.16)1v : The Duc off clarence..blake bulle.
- (c1475) Exped.Edw.IV (Arms 2M.16)3r : Sir Robert Tailbosse of Kyme..the whyt Boull.
2.
Astron. & astrol. (a) The constellation and zodiacal sign Taurus; white ~ [rendering Virgilian L candidus Taurus]; (b) used allusively of Herod.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.207 : Eueriche monþe þe sonne entreþ in to assigne, as it falleþ for þe monþe..in Averel in to the Boole; in May in to þe Twynnes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1017-21 : Taurus the seconde after this Of Signes, which figured is Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold..This Bole is ek with sterres set..Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet Unto the tail of Aries.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1037 : Gemini..be with Sterres wel bego: The heved hath part of thilke tuo That schyne upon the boles tail.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.55 : Whan Phebus doth his bryghte bemes sprede, Right in the white Bole.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)574 : The twelue syngnys off the yere..As the Ram, the qwyght Bole, the Tweyn Bredyr [etc.].
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)4 : In May..Phebus gan to shede his stremes shene Amyd the Bole.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)35 : Þe sunne passith be hem..in march be þe ram, in april be þe bul.
- a1456 Allas for thought (Add 16165)257 : Þat þe Moone takeþe hir leve, And to þe whyte bulle hir dresse.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/4 : Loke þat þe mone be noght yn þe tokenynges of þe Bull or of ffishes.
b
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.16.97b : As sone as Ihesu..was born..he mette with the signe of Taurus -- Herodes, the cruel horned bole.
3a.
Phrases. (a) boles blod, ~ galle, ~ grece; (b) helle(s bole, an epithet of Satan; (c) ~ of the se, some aquatic mammal [cp. se-bole].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.75 : Myda..drank blood of a boole [Higd.(2): bulle] and deide.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)177b/a : Mollificatifz..ben..gose grece and boles grece.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1133 : [A cement for chinks in baths] Eek bolis blood With oil and flour of lyme admyxt is good.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.755 : Yf ofte vppon the rootes..The boles falle enfusid be.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)90/21 : Take þe blood of a boole al hoot, and anoynte þe þer-with.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)120/26 : For þe mygreyn: Take þe galle of a blak bole..whyt wyn.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)7/4 : To make grene water: Take..whit verdegrice..saltpetur..þe galle of a bole..alem.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)526 : He..haueð to dei ouercumen helles bule [vr. helle bule], behal, baldest of alle.
c
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)p.269 : Whan..bulles of the see syng a good bace.
3b.
Cpds. (a) bole(s-hide, a bull's hide, a bull's hide cut into thongs for measuring land; ~ skin; (b) ~ calf, bull calf; ~ fot, the plant coltsfoot (Tissilaga farfara); a blunder; ~ galle, gall of a bull; ~ hed, head of a bull; Minotaur; ?a stubborn person; a fish: mullet, bullhead; ~ horn, horn of a bull; ~ nekked, bull-necked; (c) ~ ring, an arena for bull-baiting, bull ring; ~ rope; ~ senewe, bull-hide whip; ~ scar, ~ stak, ?bull ring; ~ stirk, ~ stot, bullock, steer; ~ tonge, a medicinal herb; ~ yerde, bull-hide whip.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14187 : Þu ʒif me swa muchel lond..Swa wule anes bule hude ælches weies ouer spræden.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Horst.)96 : Hi leten hem diʒte a gret schip & aboue hit abbi caste [read: al bicaste] wiþ bole-huden stronge ynou, ynailed þerto faste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2497 : Þo carf he an hole [read: bole] hude smal to an þuong.
- a1400 SMChron.(Add 19677)296 : As muche lond he bad As with a bole hude myʒte be sprad.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)304 : The boundes be compas he mette With thong out-korve of a boolys hyde.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2440 : Al þe armure he was yn Was noght bot of a bul-skyn.
- (1425-6) Red Paper Bk.Colchester49 : Oxhides, bolehides, calvesskynnes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7504 : Þat y mot haue..Namore lond..þan y may sprede a boles hyd.
- c1450 Swarte smekyd (Arun 292)169 : Of a bole-hyde ben here barm-fellys.
b
- (1381) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.4 : ii calues, wharof þat on is a bole-calf.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)263b/a : Bole galle y smered vnder þe nauel laxeþ..þe wombe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)273a/a : Oxe hornes ben more and þikkere þan bole hornes.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.57 : I know not an a from the wynd-mylne, ne a b from a bole foot.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)41b/b : Minotaurus: a bulshedes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1094 : Bullenekkyde was that bierne, and brade in the scholders.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)8/37 : Þow þey vownd a bole-fot writen in hir book..þei wolde tel it forth, & tat is for no-thing ellus but wantyng of wit & of discreciun.
- a1450 Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)421 : Þou lisst, screu, bolhed; Euil met þou triwe!
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.5 (Hrl 2169)175 : The bolle hedys sylvyr, the hornys gold. Tomas Bullok, Barkechyre.
- (c1475) Exped.Edw.IV (Arms 2M.16)2r : The lord hastynges..Blake Boull hed, Rasid hornes..& bout the neke a Croune gold.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)47 : A Bulhede: bulbus, capito, piscis est.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)704 : Nomina Piscium..a bulhede.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)763 : Hic mullus: a bulhyd.
c
- (1353) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.671 : [A tenement..opposite] le Bolestak.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.159 : Dyuers manere tormentes among þe Romayns..bondes, boole ʒerdes [L taureas fustes], platis, battis, [etc.].
- (1387-8) Rec.Norwich 249 : [For repairing the] bool rope, 6 d.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10386 : To godd þe lambes he gaf to lottes, And to þe pouer þe bul scottes [read: stottes].
- (1408) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.2981 : In bovaria..j taurus et j bulstirk.
- (1416) MSS Beverley in HMC98 : Bull-ryng [opposite the castle of the Butchers].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)156a/a : Laxatyf..with þe sirup of þe..herbes capillares..saxifrage..boles tonge [L clauellarie].
- (1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30254 : xxx bull stirkus.
- (1472) Doc.York in Sur.Soc.35253 : Johannes Fattyng et Johannes Lilly habent infra situm mansionum suarum ij bulscars..ibidem ludunt tempore Divinorum.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)134/32 : Then made þys Emperour..to bete hys body wyth dry bolle-senows tyll þe flessch fell from þe bon.
- a1525(?1424) Cov.Leet Bk.83 : The chamburlayns schall make a ryng at the Bullryng, to thend þat bullez may be baytyd as they haue byn hertofore.
4.
(a) As a surname; (b) in surnames: bole-clut, -finch, -fot, -hals, -herd, -herte, -heved, -hous, -lomb, -man, -nekke, -penne, -stot, -ward; (c) in place names: see A.H. Smith PNElem. 1.41, 56.
Associated quotations
a
- (1166) in Pipe R.Soc.994 : Willielmus Bulla.
- (1169) in Pipe R.Soc.13156 : Wulfwinus Bule.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch5/42 : Bule, Rog.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch41/32 : Ricardus Bole.
- (1303) Feudal Aids 6105 : Robertus Bull.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19242 : Adam le Bole.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 399 : Willelmus le Bole.
- -?-(1166) Red Bk.Exch.in RS 99411 : Willelmus Bole.
b
- (1130) Pipe R.Hen.I48 : Uluricus Bulehals.
- (1176) in Pipe R.Soc.25145 : Ailricus Bulefot.
- (1190) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.198 : Goche Buleherte.
- (1195) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.637 : Robertus Buleheued.
- (1218) in Wallenberg PNKent95 : Rad. Buluinch.
- (1221) Justice in Eyre R.in Seld.Soc.53528 : Adam Bulleheued.
- (1230) Pat.R.Hen.III373 : Robertus Boleman de Grimmesby.
- (c1230) Cart.Oseney in OHS 89162 : Thoma Bulepanne.
- (1241) Close R.Hen.III286 : Johannes de la Bulehuse.
- (1253) Feet Fines Sus.in Sus.RS 7p.6 : Willm. Bullenecke.
- (1262) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 49304 : Roger de Bolefinch.
- (1263) Feet Fines Sus.in Sus.RS 7p.52 : Willm. Boleneke.
- (1269) Pat.R.Hen.III360 : Bartholomew del Bulhus.
- (1273) Surnames in Disc.24 : John boleheved.
- (1274) Hundred R.Tower 2118 : Johannes de Bulepenne.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1031 : Ricardus Bulfinch.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 214 : Roberto Bulestot.
- (1313) in Wallenberg PNKent54 : Gilb. Boluynch.
- (1317) Pat.R.Edw.II698 : William Bolesheved.
- (1319) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms59 : Thom. Blleward.
- (1320) Pat.R.Edw.II539 : Robert Bolherd.
- (a1327) Surnames in Disc.24 : Lawrence bulfinch.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3116 : Johannes Bolepanne.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3129 : Thomas Bulelombe.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3183 : Johannes Bolepenne.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3232 : Willelmus Bolehouse.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10187 : Laur. Bolefynch.
- (1332) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10152 : Hug. Buleclut.
- (1332) Sub.R.War.in Dugd.Soc.615 : Philip Buluynch.
- (1347) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.1.82 : Thomas Bolefot.
- (1414) Let.Bk.Lond.I (Gldh LetBk I)126 : [Edward] Bolfynch.
- (1464) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms59 : Joh. Bulman.
c
- (1322) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)431 : Totum teneamentum meum..vocatum le Bolehalle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1460-1) Doc.in Wasson Devon ()101 : In argento dato Carnific' Exoniensis pro le Bolebaytynge in Exoniense per ij vices ij s. per preceptum Maioris.
Note: New cpd.
- (1456-7) Doc.in Wasson Devon ()99 : In argento dato Carnific' Exoniensis pro le baytyng cuiusdam Tauri apud le boleryng ex antiqua consuetudine xij d.
- (1311-12) Freeman R.in KRec.18 ()194 : Ricardus Bolvinch.
Note: Additional quote(s)