Middle English Dictionary Entry

celūre n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms celūre n. Also celo(u)r, -er, cilure, -our, sel-, sil-, siller.
Etymology OF celëure, sileure (from L caelatūra).

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A canopy, as over a throne or image; (b) a canopy for a bed; hol ~; dimi ~; (c) fig. shelter.
Show 20 Quotations
2.
Paneling or some other ornamental covering for walls or ceilings, or an individual piece of such material.
Show 7 Quotations
3.
Either sense 1 or 2.
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.50rb (2.7) : It [the diaphragm] diuiseþ and departeþ & bereth vp þe spirituales fro þe toþer membres þat ar vnderneþen..& þerfor it is strawght & rawght oute, os it were a celoure of cloþe or of a skyn.
    • Note: New form: Also.. celoure.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b).
  • (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4 ()270 : Item lego eidem Aliciae filiae meæ..j siffe, j buschell, j strake, j schekar, j silur de ligno, & j quart pott de pewdir.
    • Note: New form: Also..silur.
    Note: Quot. may belong to sense 2., although it seems an odd fit for celūre, because the other items in the list (based on MED glosses) are a sieve; a bushell container; either ?a sieve or ?a container, perh. for kitchen use; ?a piece of wood with which grain is levelled even with the rim of the container; and a pewter quart pot. ?Quot. may belong to salē̆r(e n.: "A saltcellar, dish for salt." Also cp. MED salt-salē̆r(e n., although most of these vessels are described as being made of pewter, silver, or gilt.
  • a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)288/3850 : Diafragma..is stratchyd & racchyd out as it ware a sylowre (a thyn borde or a clath) tyed all about to þe sydes of þe body.
    • Note: New form: Also..siloure.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.
  • (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.88 : [A] testour [with a half] seler [of a bed].
  • (1462) Paston ()1.108 : Item, on hooll bed of aras of the largest assise, seler, tester, and coueryng.
  • (1462) Paston ()1.111 : Item, iij white beddis wyth the selours and testeres.
    • Note: Additional quots. for sense 1.(b).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1383) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.128 : [Two half-testers] (di' selurs).
    • Note: New form: Also..selur.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b).
  • (1420) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.77 : [One] selour.
    • Note: Without more context, quot. prob. best placed in sense 3., which it antedates (although it may belong to either sense 1.(b) or sense 2. as an additional quot.).
  • (1453) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.139 : [A] selour [of red worsted].
  • (1454) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.142 : [A] syler [of] blew carde, [6 d].
  • (1455) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93353 : Item..ij. blankettes, j. olde paled helyng, with celer and tester of þe same.
    • Note: Additional quots. for sense 1.(b).
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. Provisional revised form section (including supplement forms): Also celour, celer, cilour, cilloure, selur(e, selour(e, selowir, selor, seler, silur(e, silour(e, silloure, sil(l)er.--all notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.