Middle English Dictionary Entry
chauncel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chauncel n. Also cha(u)nsel, shansel. |
| Etymology | OF chancel; cp. L cancellī lattice, railing. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The part of the church containing the altar and the choir seats, set off by a railing or screen from the nave; chancel, choir; (b) ~ flor; ~ window.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3656 : Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8804 : Þe lewed man, holy cherche wyl forbede To stounde yn þe chaunsel whyl men rede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)946 : Ho watz þe fayrest in felle..He ches þurȝ þe chaunsel to cheryche þat hende.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3279 : On-to þe chauncell mad he many a gate With his chapeleynis in ful prestly aray.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30147 : I bequeth..my body, to be buriede in the chirch..with in the quere in the mydds of the chauncell.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)393 : For halowynge of chapels, chirchis, chauncellis and oþer ournementis of þe chirche.
- (1474) Stonor1.143 : Item, blakke hangyng aboute the chauncell and chirche.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)29/30 : He ȝede ynto chansele and wyth all hys hert prayde Seynt Steven of helpe.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.100 : Þe ffende apperyd in a womans lyknes..Prechyng vpon hygh vnto þe chauncell, Standyng boldly be þe awter syede.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)803 : Cansella, cansellum: a schanselle.
b
- (1408-17) Rec.St.Mary at Hillp.xcvi : The church and the chauncell flore most be..fayre swoped with a Besom.
- (c1447) Let.Midylton in Lin.NQ 16203 : That yt be clenly wrowgt..with ffoylage leke as they are yn the chaunsell wyndow.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1325 SLeg.Magd.(1) (Corp-C 145)327 : Into þe chancel he wende, To matins as it was is wone.
Note: Antedates senes (a).--per SMK
Note: New form: chancel.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including Supplemenet form): Also chancel, chansele, schanselle.--per MLL