pillow
.
Searchable Lemmata: pyle (OE), pulvinus (L), pilew (AN), pilwe (ME), pillow (MdE).
Alternate Forms: pelew, pelewes, pelos, pelose, pelow, pelowe, pelowes, pelowis, pilewe, pilloue, pillous, pillowe, pilow, pilowe, pilue, pilus, pilwes, pilwis, pule, pyllow, pyllowes, pyllowys, pylow, pylwe.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1a(n.)
Utilisation;
pillow; a bag or similar container, typically made of cloth; filled with feathers, down, or other soft materials. Something that is used to support the head in sleep or rest, or to provide support for other parts of the body when lying, reclining or kneeling. The Latin terms pulvinus (pillow), pulvinar and pulvilnus are glossed interchangebly in Old English.(ante 900 still in current use)
7. Be ðæm wæs suiðe wel gecueden ðurh ðone witgan: Wa ðæm ðe willað under ælcne elnbogan lecggean pyle & bolster under ælcne hneccan menn mid to gefonne.
[DOE CP (066100 (19.143.12))]
12. Also a olde sengil vestement of grene selk poudrid with floures ... Also ij olde crosses of laton & ij stanes for þe principall crosses & ij baner clothis. ... Also a sengel vestement of white busteyn for lent. ... v corporas for principall dayes, Also vj seoudaries corporas & a case ... Also ij sewdarie of lynne cloth enbraudid with gold ... Also vij pelewes of selk of diuers colours.
[MED Rec.St.Mary at Hill (27) 1432]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
1b(n.) ;
cushion used in the performance of mass.(970 - ante 1100)
1. Deferatur tunc <ab> ipsis diaconibus ante altare et eos accolitus cum puluillo sequatur, super quem sancta crux ponatur heo si boren þænne fram þam diaconum toforan þam weofude & hi taporberend mid pyle folgige ofer þænne seo halige rod beo gesett.
[DOE RegCGl (Kornexl) (032800 (44.1048)) 970/1050]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, Old English, with various cognates across Germanic, the source word being a borrowing into Proto-Germanic of Latin pulvinus. The Anglo-French example is a borrowing from Middle English; Latin pulvinus did not survive into French (the rare Md. French polochon is a borrowing from Dutch or English), the original Latin term being replaced instead by coussin 'cushion' (q.v.) < Latin coxinus and oreillier (q.v.). Irish pilér 'pillow' is known from the early Modern period, but not medieval times; it is a borrowing of this word, or based on English pilliver or pillow-bere (qqv.).
WF:
Etym Cog: pfülwe (MHG), puli (OS).
References:
