Middle English Dictionary Entry
al n.
Entry Info
| Forms | al n. Also hal, nal, eal, aul, h)el, alle. Forms: dat. alle, gen. alles; pl. alles, (Ayenb.) eles. |
| Etymology | OE æl; the ME pl. has the vowel of the sg. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. elsen.
1.
(a) A tool or instrument with a sharp point; a stylus; (b) a shoemaker's awl; (c) a spike (on armor).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Trin-C O.2.21)194 : An hel [glossing AF (Cmb) subiloun].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)416 : De sabiloun est fait true: with al make a bore.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.21.6 : He shal thril his eer with an alle [WB(2): a nal], and he shal be to hym a seruaunt into the world.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)11 : Be war also to sporne ayeyns an al.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)124b/a : The wombe be prykkede or persede with a wymble or wiþ a grete alle [*Ch.(1): elsen].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2868 : With boidekenys, percyng as an all, He moordred was.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.199 : Take a bay of gotis donge And with anal [BodAdd: a nal], as craftly as ye mowe, So make hit holugh.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)154/16 : A vyleyn woord is..more peryschande þan an allys poynt.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)21.8 (v.1:p.182) : His scolers .. with poyntels and alles prickid hym to the deth, and therfore .. he is clepid Felix in Pincis, for 'pinca' is an alle.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14459 : Hard ys to sporne ageyn an hal [F aguillon].
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)158/30 : His eere was fastenyd with an all, smyten þrouȝ it, to a poste of the temple.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)88a : A wummon þe haueð ilosed hire nelde oðer a sutere his eal [Nero: el].
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.156 : Hail be ȝe sutlers wiþ ȝour mani lestes, wiþ ȝour blote hides..and alles.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)66 : Þe tonge..more boryinde þanne zouteres eles.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)136/20 : Þis man..toke hys schone..And as he sewet..he wondyd hymselfe in þe honde wyth his nalle.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)628 : Sunt ansoria, solie, sibula [glossed: nalle], cordibanumque.
c
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15547 : Al hys body Armyd thykke With hallys [F aguillons] that wer sharp and kene..Lyk a skyn off an yrchown He was arrayed vp and doun.
2.
(a) A quill (of a hedgehog or porcupine); (b) a rigid pointed process, a prickle.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)66 : Þe þorn-hog..ys al ywryȝe myd prikyinde eles.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)64/5 : Þe portepyn..is al hid in scharp alles..and whan he is wroþ, he launceþ an al fro his body.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)63a/b : Bestis þat haue her prickes or alles [L spinas] in stede of bones.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Cp. eile n. and oul n.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. awl.