† diˈshevely, -elee, ppl. a.
Also 4–5 dischieflee, 5 discheuelee.
[a. OF. deschevelé pa. pple., f. des-, dis- + OF. chevel, cheveu hair, = med.L. dis-, dēcapillātus stripped of hair, shaven, Sp. descabellado ‘bald, hauing no haire left on his head’: cf. It. (di)scapigliare ‘to desheuell, to disorder..ones head or haires’. In another form of this word, the -é of OF. pa. pple., became mute in ME.: see dishevel a.]
= dishevel a. 1.
| a 1430 Chaucer's Canterb. T. Prol. 683 (Ellesm. MS.) Discheuelee [other MSS. discheuele] saue his cappe he rood al bare. 14.. Chaucer's L.G.W. 1315 Dido (Fairf. MS.) She falleth him to foote and swowneth there Disshevely with hire bryght gelte here. c 1450 Merlin 298 She was all discheuelee in her heer. c 1470 Harding Chron. clxxviii. ii, In chaumbre preuy At discouert descheuely also in all, As seruyng was to estate virginall. |