limail, lemel Now only techn.
(ˈliːməl)
Forms: 4–5 limail(le, lymail(le, -ayl(e, lemaille, 5 limayle, lymayll, 6 limall, 7 limaile, limmell, 9 lemel, Sc. lummle.
[a. F. limaille, f. limer:—L. līmāre to file.]
Metal filings.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 1267 An Ounce..Of siluer lemaille. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 592/45 Limatorium, lytarge or lymayle. 1460–70 Bk. Quintessence 9 If ȝe wole not make lymayl of gold, þanne make þerof a sotil þinne plate. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. i. 115 Limall of golde. 1615 Markham Eng. Housew. (1660) 105 Take Limmell of Gold, Silver, Lattin, Copper, Iron [etc.]. 1825–80 Jamieson, Lummle, the filings of metal. 1893 B'ham Gaz. 12 Jan. 3/3 The waste comprised wire-ends, called gold scrap, and gold dust, called lemel. |