Middle English Dictionary Entry
brasī̆l(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brasī̆l(e n. Also braysil, bresil. |
| Etymology | ML brasilium & OF bresil. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Brazilwood (as a source of red or reddish dyes); also, the brazil tree; (b) a dye, dye-solution, or pigment from brazilwood; ~ water; (c) fabric dyed with such dye.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (c1303) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.161 : Bala de bresil, iiii d. ]
- ?a1350 Recipe Painting(1) in Archaeol.J.1 (Hrl 2253)64 : Vorte make cynople. Tac brasyl and seoth in dichwatur.
- (1422) in Camd.2547 fn. : ii graundes peces du Bracile, pris vi s. viii d.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)125a/a : And if þu wilt colour þe applez of þe cheekez, Be þai anoynted wiþ water of alum in which be distempered a litel of shauyng of brasile.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)189 : Merchaundyse that be seld and weyen by the c, as brasyle, alom.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)47 : Brasyle: Gaudo vel lignum Alexandrinum.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)30 : Datrees, gernadez, euer blowyng orengys, Brasyl, almaunders, euen sette yn rengys.
- a1475 Limn.Bks.(Brog 2.1)83 : To dy rede sylke, take brasylle and schave hit smalle, and boyle hit in water of a marle pytte.
- (a1500) in Singer Cat.Alchem.2.617/938 : To make rosyn [red ink] for writers and luminoures, take an unce of schafyng of brasile and di. unce of alom.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)3/2 : To make scarlet water. Take vreyne watere..and whanne hit ys lewe-hot, put in a poudre of brasel.
b
- (1372) in Black Leathersellers16 : [Dyers..take for the tincture of one pound of] brasill [sometimes 12 d.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4649 : Hym nedeth nat his colour for to dyen With brasile.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)76/6 : Tak wormot..þe scome of brasill, white glase, [etc.].
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)95/6 : Þis bawme is þikke and coloured liche Brasyle.
- a1475 Limn.Bks.(Brog 2.1)77 : To make brasyle to flouryche letterys or to reule with bokys.
- c1500 Recipe MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)424 : To mak brasyl water..Tak brasil and shave it, and tak lyme water and seth it with..put a lump of alum in it.
c
- c1450 Wimbledon Serm.(Hat 57)18/14 : Alas, alas, þat grete cite þat wos cloyd [read: cloþd] with bijs and porpur and brasil.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 29/9 : Take the schauying of brasile and seþe hit in gode stronge liȝe til the colour be soden out þerof.
Note: Need date, sense (a).
- ?a1425 Cmb.Dd.6.29 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.6.29) 73/5,9 : Take alym water and brasel and bile hem togeder..and take of þe schauings and lay hem in a clowte and sumwat twiste out þe kolur of brasil.
Note: Additional quot., sense (a), new spelling (brasel).