numbles Now only arch.
(ˈnʌmb(ə)lz)
Forms: α. 4 noubles (?), 4–6 noumbles (5 -buls, nownbils), 5 nowm(b)elys, 6 Sc. nowmyllis. β. 4, 6–7, 9 numbles. γ. 6–7 noombles, 5–6, 9 nombles.
[a. OF. numbles (1239 in Du Cange), nombles pl. (Latinized as numbli, numbuli, and numbilia), loin of veal, fillet of beef or venison, chine of pork, app. for *lomble(s) and repr. L. lumbulus (Pliny), dim. of lumbus loin. In Norman dial., nombles has the same sense as that usual in English. Variant forms are umbles and humble.]
Certain of the inward parts of an animal (chiefly those of a deer) as used for food. Also, in early use, part of the back and loins of a hart.
| α c 1320 Sir Tristr. 491 Þe wombe oway he bare, Þe noubles he ȝaf to mede. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1347 So ryde þay of by resoun bi þe rygge bonez, Euenden to þe haunche,..& hwen hit of þere, & þat þay neme for þe noumbles, bi nome as I trowe. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 10 Take þe noumbuls of þe veneson, In water and salt þo wasshe hom sone. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 360/1 Nowmelys of a beest (K. nowmbelys), burbalia. 1483 Cath. Angl. 256/2 Þe Nownbils of a dere,..pepinum. 1508 Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 114 At thai sell nocht oppinly..thair nolt heids, nowmyllis, nor interallis of thair flesche. 1530 Palsgr. 248/2 Noumbles of a dere or beest, entrailles. |
| β 1333–4 Durh. Acct. Rolls 21 In..iij paribus de Numbles. c 1500 Wyl Bucke's Test. (Halliw.) 60 Take the numbleis, and loke that they be clene. 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. vii. (1880) II. 253 His glorious harte, as it were numbles chopped in peaces. 1575 in Brand Newcastle (1789) II. 721 Of every purpose [= porpoise] to have the fynnes and the head and the numbles. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. vii. 371 Some, it is reported, lay a part of the Numbles on the fire. 1857 Fraser's Mag. LVI. 217 Commend us to a venison pudding, composed of the numbles and trimmings from the joints and breast. |
| attrib. 1822 T. L. Peacock Maid Marian 241 Robin helped him largely to numble-pie..and the other dainties of his table. |
| γ 14.. Lat.-Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 569 Burbilium, nombles. c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 10 Take þe Nombles of Venysoun, an cutte hem smal whyle þey ben raw. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking e vij b, The man to his mayster spekyth..Off the nomblys of the hert that he wolde hym kith How mony endys ther shall be hem with inne. 1575 Turberv. Venerie 129 You shall take the harts heart..and rayse the Noombles from his fillets. 1688 Holme Armoury ii. 188/1 Noombles, or Umbles; the Hart or Bucks plucks, as Heart, Lights, Liver, with other appendices. 1820 Scott Monast. xvii, If you be so heavy, I will content me with the best.., and that's the haunch and the nombles. |