umbles
(ˈʌmb(ə)lz)
Also 5 owmlys, 6 umblys, vmblis, 7–9 (in comb.) umble-.
[var. of numbles: see also humble n.]
1. The edible inward parts of an animal, usually of a deer.
| 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 616 Tispatum, umbles. 14.. Nom. Ibid. 678 Hoc burburium, owmlys. a 1500 For to serve a Lord in Babees Bk. (1868) 377 Brawne with mustard, umblys of a dere or of a sepe. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1240 The vmblis of venyson..To fayre maistres Anne that shuld haue be sent. 1558 T. Phaer æneid v. M 2 On umbles fat they feede, and broche, and broyle. 1587 Harrison England ii. xix. (1877) i. 305 The ordinarie fee, and parts of the deere giuen vnto the keeper by a custome, who..hath the skin, head, vmbles, chine, and shoulders. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 585 Fine, daintie, and tender bodies, as..Umbles, Chickens, Calves feete, or any other good thing. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 208 They sell the flesh of them to the Chineses,..eating themselves onely the Umbles and Paunch. 1665 Pepys Diary 13 Sept., He did give us the meanest dinner, (of beef, shoulder and umbles of venison). 1725 Fam. Dict., Black Puddings;..the best Method to make them..is, to boil the Umbles of a Hog tender. 1741 Compl. Fam. Piece i. ii. 175 Take the Umbles of a Deer, parboil them, clear off all the Fat from them. 1826 Scott Woodst. iii, Where..monarchs..amused themselves with broiling the umbles, or dowsets, of the deer, upon the glowing embers. |
b. transf. and fig. (of persons).
| 1536 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford (1880) 137, I trust shortly to wash my hands in y⊇ umbles of y⊇..knaves. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl iii. i, A good well⁓set fellow, if his spirit Be answerable to his umbles. 1826 Scott Woodst. xviii, I'll give them leave to give mine umbles to the kites and ravens if they find me conferring my confidence where it is not safe. |
2. attrib. in umble-pie. (Cf. humble pie, and numble-pie s.v. numbles β.)
| 1663 Pepys Diary 8 July, Mrs. Turner..did bring us an umble pie hot out of her oven. 1683 Accomplisht Lady's Delight, 17 A dish of fruits. 18 An umble pye. 1728 E. Smith Compl. Housew. A viij, First Course..Westphalia-Ham and Chickens..Venison Pasty..Umble-Pies. 1736 Bailey Household Dict. s.v., [To make] An Umble Pye. Boil the umbles of a deer till they are very tender [etc.]. 1864 Lowell McClellan or Lincoln? Prose Wks. 1890 V. 158 Disguise it as you will, flavor it as you will, call it what you will, umble-pie is umble-pie, and nothing else. |