Middle English Dictionary Entry
carbuncle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | carbuncle n. Also -boncle, -bonkele, -buc(c)le, -bokil; charbocle, -boncle, -b(o)uncle, -bucle, -bukel(le, -buche, -bugle. |
| Etymology | OF charbocle & L carbunculus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A precious stone, any of the gems called carbuncles; esp., that carbuncle which shines in the dark; (b) a decorative material made of (or resembling) carbuncles; (c) something excellent or precious, the best of its kind; a shining example (of virtue, etc.), a gem.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/644 : A charbuche [Tit: charbucle] is betere þen a iacinct.
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)90 : Saphir and vniune, Carbuncle and astiune.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.32.7 : A litil iemme of karbuncle [L carbunculi] in the ournement of gold.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.235 : Þat lanterne was a carbuncle oþer som oþer precious stoon.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2061 : Ther inne was a bores heed, A charbocle by his side.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.466 : The Ston noblest of alle, The which that men Carbuncle calle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1316 : The ferste sterre Aldeboran..hath..Carbunculum his propre Ston.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)182a/a : Þere ben precious stones: berillus..charbuncles [L carbunculos], adamantes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/a : Carbunculus is y-cleped carbuncle [L antrax] in grewe, and..among þis twelue maner kynde of Carbuncles, þilke ben þe beste þat haue þe colour of fire.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1027 : Al dirkenes to confounde Was a charbocle, kyng of stonys alle.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.28.18 : In the secounde, carboncle [WB(2): charbuncle], saphijr, and iasp.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1120 : A fyn charboncle [F escharboucle] set saugh I.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)183/31 : Manye Charboncles..ȝeuen gret lyght vpon the nyght.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2523 : He bare..thre grayhoundes of sable..A charebocle in þe cheefe.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)444 : As a Charbouncle ageyn dirknesse.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)562 : Imagys were made..Off sundry precyus stonys, as of carbunkyllys, dyamaunts, and saphyrys.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)325 : With charboklis [vrr. charbuncles, charboukeles] four.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)103 : He sey a precious crowne ful of charbunculis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.269 : Leo..see a ryalle crowne of golde onornede with carbuncles.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)58 : A Charbunkylle: carbunculus.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2896 : In this belle a stone stoode, A charebokyll ryche & good.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)271 : Hys eyn were carbonkeles bryȝt.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)127 : Protrayed þey wer..With carbunkulle and safere.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)82 : Carbuncculus is a precios stone..Of þis carbuncul is xij maneris..The best carbucul haþe þis propirtie..Anoder kynde of carbuccle is cleped starida sirus..Amonge þe maner of kynd of carbunccus, belagius is acounted..þis maner of carbunccle.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.524 : Sir Gij gan þe hilt bi-hold..Of charbukel þe pomel.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3267 : Thereone was a chayere..chekyrde with charebocle, chawngynge of hewes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3326 : This chaire of charbokle..we chalange hereaftyre.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.5 f.91b : This other world..thu seest sowe with sterres of charboncle.
c
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)10 : Þe myht of þe margarite haueþ þis mai mere; ffor charbocle ich hire ches.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2309 : Leonidas..Was..Charboncle off armys, merour off policie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4664 : This Epamynoda..Charboncle of vertu.
2.
~ ston, carbuncle stone: (a) a carbuncle; (b) a material made of (or resembling) carbuncles.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)88/234 : On þe tur..Is a charbugleston Þat ȝiueþ leme day and niȝt.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2145 : It sparkede and ful brith shon, So doth þe gode charbucle ston.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1741 : Ȝe mote also her paye nedes a charbuncle ston.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.269 : A crowne þat was realliche i-hiȝte with charbunkel stones [L carbunculis].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.75 : In þe ynnere place..a carbuncle stoon [L carbunculus lapis]..schoon cleerliche.
- c1390(?a1325) Adam & E.(2) (Vrn)221/6 : Tygre..is briht þorw charbuncle-stones þat liggen þer-inne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5243 : Tofore þe kyng henge a charbokelston.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9477 : Ther stode many a charbocle-ston.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)590 : Chair & chaundelers & charbokel [vr. charbuncle] stones..Þey broȝte myd þe bischup.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)685 : She hadde a charbouncle ston.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)7 : He lokid afer, and sawe stonding a charbuncle ston, the which ȝaf liȝt ouer all the hous.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)663 : He thought to make that light..Wythe Carbuncle stones.
b
- c1330(?c1300) St.Patr.Purg.(1) (Auch)p.107 : In tabernacles þai wer ywrouȝt, Arches ybent with charbukelston.
- a1450 Bevis (Cai 175/96)210/117 : Þe pomel was off charbocle ston.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)89 : Þe chayer was charbocle ston.
- a1475 Lovely lordynges (Brog 2.1)p.5 : The perche schalbe of carbuncul stone.
3.
Med. & surg. (a) A large and suppurating boil, a malignant pustule, a carbuncle; (b) ?a non-malignant, non-suppurating inflammation.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98a/a : A posteme þat hatte antrax, þat constantyne calliþ Carbunculus..brenneþ as cole.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)206b/b : Salt..heleþ aposteme þat hatte Carbunculus oþer antrax.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)205/13 : Blood..makiþ apostym þat is clepid carbunculus.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)12a/a : Carbunculus: a scharbocul or a felon.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)24b/b : Of blode vnloueable..ar gendred alle pusclez crustous fro a carbuncle vnto estiomenum.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)52/26 : Þe iuyse of solsiquii..destroyeþ..þe felon and þe carbuncle.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)6a/b : A chapitre helpynge to þe same of carboncles, antraces & estyomene [L de carbunculo & estiomeno].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)28b/a : The Carbuncle or þe prune or þe wylde fyre or antrax, þe whiche Auicen takeþ as it were for þe same, is an euel flegmonyk pustle, blystring and brennynge.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)11 marg. : For charbocle grond in þe end of þe eghe.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)250/7 : For to lede antrax, felun and charbuncle from on place to a nothyr.
b
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)28b/a : Þoghe a formycle be a litel flegmon, an euel corrupte pustle is nouȝt þat þerfore, for it makiþ nouȝt attre in his brekynge oute..rasis..calleþ hym þe carbuncle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. carbuncle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)33/154b : Carbunculus: a gloueryng teke, a carbunkyllstone, a felon.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 2.(a).
Note: Integrate into etymology: (AND)--AN carbuncle, vr. of charbucle n. Other variant forms may explain various ME spellings: charbocle, charbokelle, charbokle, charboncle, charboucle, charbuche, charbuchle, charbunkel, carbucle.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL