Middle English Dictionary Entry
corāl n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | corāl n.(1) Also coraul, -ail, -el, cural, -el, quiral, querel. |
| Etymology | OF coral & L corallum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The coral of the Mediterranean (red and white); esp. red coral; (b) coral used ornamentally; ~ bedes; also, a piece of red coral; (c) fig.
Associated quotations
a
- [ a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)16 : Corallus, hujus ii sunt species, albus et rubeus, quando simpliciter rubeus. ]
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4049 : His comb was redder than the fyn coral.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)191b/b : In þe see of Scicilia is white coral engendrede.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198b/b : Corall is y gendred in þe reede see & is tree as longe as it is y hiled wiþ water; but anon as it is y drawe out of þe water and y touched wiþ aer, it torneþ in to stoon.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.HPL (Hnt HM 744)3 : Hir browes been lyk to dym reed coral.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)92 : Coralle, stone: Corallus.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)231 : Let hyt seþe algate; & when þou wolt ywete ȝyf hyt be ynow, droppe þerof on þy nayle, & ȝyf hyt be lyke coral hyt ys ynow.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)53 : Corayle is a ston yt is mad of ye fom of ye se..he has colour of gernad red.
b
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)70 : Grene Iaspe and rede corale.
- c1330(?c1300) St.Patr.Purg.(1) (Auch)p.107 : Margarites and coral.
- (1351) Will York in Sur.Soc.464 : j par de bedes de corall.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.158 : Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar A peyre of bedes gauded al with grene.
- (1395) Will York in Sur.Soc.453 : lx numeralia de corall cum gaudiis deauratis.
- (1415) Will York in Sur.Soc.4381 : Unum bede de querell.
- (1422) EEWills50/17 : I bequeth to sir Iohan Coyle, I pare bedes of corall.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)9105 : Þe garettes oboven þe yhates bryght Of þe cete of heven..wroght..Of fyne curalle and rych rubys.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30106 : To my doghter Mabill a parr of coral bedds.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30113 : A peir of bedis of coralle wt a ringe.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)62/401 : & a haue on a gay gowne of selk or ell a pair'o curel bedes hongyng abowte his nekk.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)p.25 : Accate..of colours of golde, of myrre, of encens, & of coraulys droped.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.46/18 : A pare bedys of gold meynghid with corall.
- (1452) *Will J.Barker (Somerset Ho.) [OD col.] : Quyral bedis.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45194 : j par of bedys of x coralls.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)480 : Ladyes with bedys of coralle and lambur.
- a1475 Lovely lordynges (Brog 2.1)p.4 : The cowpuls alle of galyngalle, The bemus alle of ryche coralle Ryally begone.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)154 : Deamoundes and koralle.
c
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)7 : He is coral ycud wiþ cayser ant knyht, ase emeraude amorewen þis may haueþ myht.
2.
Coral used (a) medicinally and (b) as a charm.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)103b/a : Som constreyneþ and stintiþ blood, as corallus.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)41b/b : Take..of margery perles..of þe floure of rede coral.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)48a/b : [In an electuary for the pestilence:]..schauynge of yuory..brekynges of a saphir..rede coral.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)186b/a : Coralle is knowen colde in þe firste degre drye in þe secounde with restreynynge.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)216 : Þe jus of scabyose..pouder of coral..drynk þerof agood drawȝt & hyt schal breke þe postym.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)244/16 : Take þe pouder of corall..drynke it with freche cold water, for yt stanchyt þe flux.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)977 : The Corall rede, whyche flux stauncheth aryght.
b
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.77 : Coral..is mych louely to him þat bereþ it..þe stone is gode to set in a vynnȝerd..for it kepeþ away tempest..& makeþ þe fruyte to multeply.
3.
(a) The color of red coral; (b) ?porphyry [which is red].
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 I have a gentil cok (Sln 2593)7, 11 : I haue a gentil cook..his comb is of reed corel, his tayil is of get. I haue a gentyl cook..his comb is of red scorel [read: corel], his tayl is of Inde.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.153 : Lytill fischis..dressit tham to sprede Thair curall fynnis, as the ruby rede.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1325 : Þe walles of þe chambre were..y-maked of ful riche gere of coral & riche stones.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)136/9 : Þe grecez on whilk þe emperour gase vp to his trone..er ane of oniche, anoþer of cristall, anoþer of iaspre..anoþer of corall.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Add to form section: Also..(error) scorel.
Note: See sense 3.(a), where the quot. for c1450 has been expanded to include this form. (Both it, and the form corel, which was already in the quot. are needed for form.)--notes per MLL