whelk red
, whelk + red.
Searchable Lemmata: weolocread (OE) welken-red (ME), wolcnreadan, wolcenreade (OE), wolenreadan (error) (ME).
Alternate Forms: wolcneread.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1a(adj.)
Decoration;
dyed the red or purple colour obtained from whelks (cf. OE weoloc, weolocread). Only a drop or two of dye could be obtained from each whelk. While the shelfish were widely used to manufacture a purplish or red dye in earlier periods (ancient Rome, Byzantium, early British and Irish manuscripts, etc.), the probability is that they went out of general use around the eighth century and were only used sporadically afterwards. [cf. Daniel V. Thompson, D.V. (1956) 156-158.]
dye-stuff; producing the colour of scarlet, vermillion or dark purple.(circa 900 - circa 1000)
1. & her beoð swyþe genihtsume weolocas, of þam bið geweorht se weolocreada tælgh, þone ne mæg sunne blæcan ne ne regn wyrdan; ac swa he biþ yldra, swa he fægerra biþ.
Historic.
[DOE Bede 1 (0007 (0.26.9))]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
2(adj.)
Decoration;
the purple of the garment wrapped around Christ before the crucifixion, with extended use as the symbolic colour of sin before the its purification.(circa 1000)
1. Hwæt ða his cempan. hine gelæhton. on ðam domerne. mid dyrstigum anginne. and hine unscryddon. his agenum gyrelum. and mid wolcnreadum wæfelse. hine bewæfdon. and mid þyrnenum helme. his heafod befengon. and for cynegyrde. him hreod forgeafon. bigende heora cneowu. and cweðende mid hospe. Sy ðu hal leof. iudeiscra leoda cyning;
[DOE ÆCHom II, 14.1 (0087 (114.197))]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
WF:
Etym Cog:
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