▪ I. † diˈshevel, a. Obs.
In 4–5 discheuel(e, disshevele, dysshyuell, 5 dishiuill, (Sc.) dyschowyll.
[Variant of dishevely, a. OF. deschevelé, with final é mute in Eng. Cf. assign n.]
1. Without coif or head-dress; hence, with the hair unconfined and flung about in disorder. Sometimes app. in wider sense: Undressed, in dishabille.
| c 1381 Chaucer Parl. Foules 235 In kyrtelles al discheuel [v.rr. dysshyuell, discheuele, dissheueld, dissheueled, dischieflee] went þei þer. c 1385 ― L.G.W. 1720 Lucretia, This noble wif sat by hire beddys side Discheuele [v.r. disshevely] for no maleyce she ne thoughte. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1014 Eftyr mydnycht in handis thai haiff him tane, Dyschowyll on sleipe. |
2. Of hair: = dishevelled 2.
| c 1450 Crt. of Love 139 And all her haire it shone as gold so fine Dishiuill crispe down hanging at her backe A yard in length. |
▪ II. dishevel, v.
(dɪˈʃɛvəl)
[perh. a. 16th c. descheveler (Cotgr.), mod. décheveler; but prob. chiefly a back-formation from dishevelled.]
1. trans. To loosen and throw about in disorder (hair and the like); to let (the hair) down.
| 1598 Florio, Dischiomare, to disheuell, to touze ones haire. 1611 Cotgr., Descheveler, to discheuell; to pull the haire about the eares. 1618 Barnevelt's Apol. D iij, The Peacock when he's viewd disheuels his faire traine. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche ii. ix, They..dishevel May Round Tellus's springing face. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 201 He had been at court in the morning; but though he had changed his clothes, he had omitted to dishevel his hair. 1826 Blackw. Mag. XX. 397 She now dishevels..the unsinged beauty of her flowing tresses. |
† 2. intr. (for refl.) Of hair: To hang loose or in disorder. Obs.
| 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 230 Their haire curling, dishevells oft times about their shoulders. Ibid. 355. |
Hence diˈshevelling vbl. n.
| a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 244 The..wanton fashion of the womans dissheveling her hair. 1786 F. Burney Diary 17 July, Just as I was in the midst of my hair dishevelling, I was summoned. |