† ˈshafflin Obs. rare.
Also 6 shafflynge (in Continental authors schafoling, schafling, -lyng).
[Perh. the same word with shaftling, though applied to a different fish. Cf. shaft-eel.]
A kind of eel.
| 1553 Belon De Aquatil. 273 Anglorum autem pisces..hisce nominibus agnoscuntur,..Eils, Lampres, Schafolings, Fausen, Griggs. 1555 ― La Nat. des Poissons 267 Eils, Lampres, Schaflings, Fauson, Griggs. 1558 Gesner's Hist. Anim. IV. 54 Minima Anguilla iisdem [Anglis] Grigge uocatur. Schaflyng uero media inter Grigge & Fausen ele. 1572 Huloet (ed. Higins), Shafflinge, or eele of a middle bignesse, anguilla media. 1747 H. Glasse Cookery xxi. 163 Fish in Season..Midsummer Quarter Grigs, Shafflins and Glout [etc.]. |