▪ I. hostel, n.1
(ˈhɒstəl)
Forms: α. 3–4 ostel, 4 osteyl, 5 osteill, -tell, 6–7 ostle. β. 3– hostel; also 4 hostil, 4– 7 hostell, 6 hostle, hostelle.
[a. OF. ostel, -eil, hostel, mod.F. hôtel = Pr. (h)ostal, Sp. hostal:—med.L. hospitāle (see hospital).]
† 1. a. A place of sojourn; a house where one lodges; a lodging. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1056 He..bead hem hom to is ostel To herberȝen wið him. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 251 Þe hede of þis hostel Arthour I hat. c 1450 Merlin 130 The kynge wolde not haue hem at noon other osteill but in his house. |
b. transf. and fig.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 22623 Lauerd..yeild us gain vr ostel nu, Þat us es reft. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 326 Whiche gaue to the lorde of heuen the hostell of her moste holy body. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 495 That this Island is an Hostell of Charity, an harbour of honesty. |
2. spec. a. A public house of lodging and entertainment for strangers and travellers; an inn, a hotel.
Obs. after 16th c. till revived in 19th by Scott.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame ii. 514 Seynt Iulyane loo bon hostele Se her the house of Fame lo. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xiv. 64 As safliche passe as the messager and as sone at hus hostil. 1550 Lever Serm. 14 Dec. (Arb.) 121 One hundred also of an other sorte..dyd lyue of theym selues in Ostles and Innes. 1808 Scott Marm. iii. (heading), The hostel, or inn. 1847 Lytton Lucretia (1853) 264 As is the usage of hostels, a pair of boots stood ouside the door, to be cleaned betimes in the morning. 1880 Watson Prince's Quest (1892) 25 But, being wearied sore in every limb Sought out a goodly hostel, where he might Rest him and eat and tarry for the night. |
b. = youth hostel. Hence ˈhosteller; ˈhostelling vbl. n.
| 1931 Times 21 Jan. 11/6 The Youth Hostels Association... It is hoped that this summer there will be 50 hostels where..a night's lodging may be obtained. 1932 Y.H.A. Handbk. Hostels 19 Much of the Y.H.A. Insurance of property in Hostels is now undertaken by the National Office. Ibid., Write to the Warden at the Hostel and quote your membership number. 1951 E. Coxhead One Green Bottle i. 26 House used to be a climbing centre, but now it's been taken for one of those youth hostels. Pity. Some of the hostellers climb, I believe. Ibid. x. 256, I treated myself to a few days' hostelling. 1961 Countryman LVIII. 434 There were always plenty of hostellers to fill the boat. 1967 Rambling & Youth Hostelling (‘Know the Game’ Series) 31 The YHA Map is useful for tour planning. It will enable you to see the network of hostels in the area you are visiting. 1970 P. Carlon Souvenir xii. 106 Her daughter's friends were allowed to go hostelling and hiking. 1973 Guardian 1 Jan. 6/3 In the most expensive..hostels, the overnight charge will go up from 35p to 40p for young hostellers. |
3. A house of residence for students at a university or elsewhere; esp. (in recent times) for students connected with a non-resident college; = hall1 4 a.
The term was never in official use at Oxford, though ‘Halls’ have been spoken of as ‘hostels’; at Cambridge it has a recognized standing.
| 1536 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 42 §1 Provostshippz Maister⁓shippz Halles Hostelles. 1547 Act 1 Edw. VI, c. 14 §15 Any of the Colleges Hostelles or Halles being in the same Universities. 1577 Harrison England ii. iii. (1877) i. 87 There is mention and record of diuerse other hals or hostels, that haue beene there [at Oxford] in times past, as Beefe hall, Mutton hall [etc.]. 1629 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 41 The clearing of the ground..was begun in May 1628, by taking down the ‘litle Ostle’. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 436 Bred in some of the hostels after⁓wards united thereunto [Trinity College, Cambridge]. 1894 Times (weekly ed.) 2 Feb. 98/3 (St. Deiniol's Library, Hawarden) These [readers] are expected to reside in the hostel belonging to the library. 1895 Rashdall Univ. Europe I. v. §1. 296 The Provost of Paris at the head of an armed band of citizens in return attacked a Hall or Hostel (hospitium) of students. 1898 Cambridge Calendar 876 Selwyn College..was recognised as a Public Hostel of the University by Grace of the Senate, Feb. 8, 1883. |
† 4. A town-mansion; = hotel 1. Obs.
| 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1381/1 The said duke de Montpensier..met the earle of Derbie and the English traine..and did accompanie him vnto hostell de Longueuille, sometime called the hostle of Aniou. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1886) 105, I went sometimes also to the court of Queen Margaret at the Hostel, called by her name. 1661 Morgan Sph. Gentry iii. vi. 60 Doth belong to Serjeants Inne in Fleet street and as they were anciently called Hostels by being Houses of Nobles. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. ii. 61 His Hostel at Paris..was then the best House next to the Queen Mothers, now call'd l'Hostel de Soissons. |
† 5. Lodging, entertainment; esp. in to take hostel, to lodge, put up. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1397 Laban..fond good grið and good hostel, Him, and hise men, and hise kamel. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 12472 Whan synne ys shryue ande clene eche deyl Þere wyl Gode holde hys hostele. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3404 Syr Ywayn and his damysell In the town toke thaire hostell. c 1450 Merlin 606 For his love shull ye haue hostell at youre volunte. |
6. attrib.
| c 1610 in Gutch Coll. Cur. II. 13 A barrel of Hostel Ale. 1808 Scott Marm. iii. xxvi, Slumbering on the hostel floor. |
▪ II. † hostel, n.2 Obs. rare—1.
A dyslogistic diminutive of host n.4
| 1624 Darcie Birth of Heresies xv. 62 Your round hostel, which you cause to be ador'd. |
▪ III. hostel, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Also 5 hostyl, 9 hostle.
[f. hostel n.1]
† 1. trans. To lodge, put up. Obs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5557 In Wynchestre were þey hosteld boþe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvii. 118 Hope shal lede hem forth..And hostel hem and hele. a 1400 Stac. Rome 548 Boþe þei weoren hostelled þere. |
2. intr. To lodge. Now dial.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxviii. 263 Ther hostyld thai all thre. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘Where do you hostle at?’ lodge at. |