Middle English Dictionary Entry
cercelle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cercelle n. Also car-, sar-, sor-. |
| Etymology | OF & ML; cp. CL querquēdula. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A teal duck.
Associated quotations
- (1304-5) MSS Middleton in HMC325 : x pluvers, xxix cercell.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.371 : In Lagenia is a ponde þere is Seynt Colman his briddes, beeþ i-cleped cercelles [Higd.(2): cercelle; L cercellæ] and comeþ homeliche to manis honde.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)79 : Sorcell rosted. Take a Sorcell or a tele, and breke his necke.
- (1452) Feast Neville(1) (Tit B.11)88 : Curlew, Carcelle, Partriche.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)64 : To rost a sarcelle.