† puˈllaile, -ˈayle Obs.
Forms: α. 4 polyle, 5 -aile, -ayl(e, -ayll(e, -eyl, 6 polell. β. 5 pullaylle, -aille, -aile, -ayle.
[a. OF. polaille (13th c. in Godef.), poulaille, f. poule chicken, fowl (see pull n.3) + -aille, collective suffix:—L. -ālia: cf. Pr. pollayllia, It. pollaglia.]
Poultry.
| α 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 57 My polyle þat is penne-fed & partrykes boþe. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 979 (MS. R.) The kyte, That me byreve wolde my polaile [v.r. pullaille]. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 158 The sleihty fox smal polayl doth oppresse. 1481 Caxton Reynard xii. (Arb.) 29 How goo your eyen so after the poleyl? 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters I j b, The inwarde yelowe skynne of mawes of the polell. |
| β c 1400 Rom. Rose 7045 With caleweys, or with pullaile, With coninges, or with fyn vitaille. 1481 Botoner Tulle on Old Age (Caxton) F iv, Grete habondaunce..of..hennys capons and of othir pullaile. a 1483 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 17 The diverse kindes of pullayle, conyes, wild fowl & tame. |