Middle English Dictionary Entry
chisē̆l n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chisē̆l n. Also chẹ̄sel. |
| Etymology | ONF chisel, corresp. to CF cisel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any of several cutting tools used by stone masons, sculptors, carpenters or metal workers; chisel, punch, etc.; (b) a pointed blade, such as a scalpel; (c) fig. a means of destruction and subversion.
Associated quotations
a
- (1353) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 32 Edw.III m.36 [OD col.] : De j chisel empto..pro bordis operandis, vj d.
- (1357) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100560 : Pikkes, chesels.
- (1370) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2952 : v ponchons et chisals.
- (1370) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29164 : j chesell pro opere cementarii..j chesell pro lapidibus.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 19.24 : That my woordis be..grauen in a boc with an iren pointel..or with a chisell thei be grauen in flint.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)52/428 : He was to deþe i coren, As cold as chisel vndur led.
- (1404) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100396 : In custodia Carpentarii..2 chesalys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)76 : Chysel, instrument: Celtis.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)1044 : Y come to þis tombe..And made an hole with þis chesell in þe stone And put in a candell brennyng.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)115 : An horn of vnicorn..is more cruelle than..chisel of carpenter.
- c1500 The shype ax (Ashm 61)71 : Than seyd the chesyll: 'And ever he thryve, he berys hym wele.'
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)807 : Seltis: a scheselle..cunius: a sceselle.
b
- (1323) Sacrist R.Ely 229 : In factura vnius chiseel pro officio plumbarie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.418 : Ther is also costlewe furrynge in hire gownes, so muche pownsonynge of chisel to maken holes, so muche daggynge of sheris.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58a/b : Scalprum: a pen knyfe or a chisel or a Shavynge knyfe.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)571/39 : Celeps: a chesell to peynte wyth.
c
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)157/4 : This subuercion, wherof fortune hath made vs a chesell, hath wel nygh conveid us to ruine.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)493/24 : It [the uvula] is kytte..with an hote yren..made in þe maner chesel.
Note: Needed for date in sense (a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also chisal, chesel, chesil, chesal, sheselle, sceselle.--notes per MLL