Middle English Dictionary Entry
bulk n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bulk n. Also bolk(e. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI būlki cargo, hold (of a ship); sense 2 (b) may be influenced by bauke beam. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The cargo of a ship, a shipload (of a commodity).
Associated quotations
- a1350 Ipswich Domesday(1) (Add 25012)156 : Dil houre qil seyent deschargez e mys a sekke terre pur vendre, ou qe les marchauntz eyent de ceo renz venduz, auxi com lem dyt en Engleys broken bolke [ID(2): brekyn bow] qe meyme les biens ne seyent pas remenez ver mer.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester8 : Makerel..ȝif it come be shepe, for the bolk iiijd..Elys par le bolk, vj d.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : Ston Maydeston par le bolk de nef, iiijd.
- ?a1425 Doc.Blk.Bk.Admir.in RS 55.1 ()72 fn. : [Que les marchants avoient] debruse la bulk [de la nef].
2.
(a) The hold (of a ship); (b) a stall, building, enclosure; ~ stal.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)292 : Þer he sete al-so sounde..As in þe bulk of þe bote, þer he by-fore sleped.
b
- (1447-8) Shillingford85 : Yn the whiche walle buth diverse shoppez wyndowes..now late the seide Bysshop hath set oute of purpos a grete bulk stale, a purpresture.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)756 : Lyke ane oven þat house was made..He besought þe angelle..Þat he wold let hym away skulke, Þat he come not within þat bulke.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.27 : That no man hold no swyne in hur bolkys ne in hur stallys by the hyȝ way.
- a1525(?1423) Cov.Leet Bk.58 : Þat no oþer man or bocher kep within the wallys of this Cite noo swyne in sties ne bulkes, ne within þer housez in þe Bochery.
3.
(a) A heap; (b) a bulging part of the body: the thorax or body (of a bee); ~ chine, ?the hindquarters (of a rabbit); (c) the volume or bulk (of a book).
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)43 : Bolke or hepe: Cumulus, acervus.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)239 : The gentil [bee] is smal..That other horribil..Drawinge his wombe abrede..To grete the bolk..The lymes hery.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)454 : Betwene þe bulke chyne, þe sides to-gedure lat þem be doon; The ij sides departe from þe chyne..þen ley bulke chyne & sides to-gedire..with þe sides serve youre souerayne.
c
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)565 : It is no neede for to make this book here therbi eny ouer greet bolk, more than nede is.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)9/20 : Which is ful litil in quantite in reward of al þe hool oþir bulk of his book.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bulk.