† ˈnightgale Obs.
Forms: 1 necti-, nectægalæ, næctægela, nacthegelæ, næcte-, nehtæ-, næhtegale, nihtegala, 1–3 nihte-, 3–4 nyhte-, 5–6 nyght(e)-, 5 nightgale, (Sc. nicht-).
[OE. nęhte-, nihtegale, etc. = OS. nahta-, nahtigala (MDu. nachtegal, -gael, Du. -gaal), OHG. nahta-, nahte-, nahtigala, etc. (MHG. nahtegal, G. nachtigall), ON. nǽtrgali (Da. nattergal, Sw. näktergal), f. Teut. naht- night n. + galan to sing, gale v.1]
The nightingale.
| c 725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) L 330 Luscinia, naectegale. Ibid. A 121 Achalantis.., nehtęgale. a 1250 Owl & Nightingale (Jesus MS.) 4 Iherde ich holde grete tale An vle and one nyhtegale. Ibid. 13 Þe nihtegale bigon þo speke. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 92 When the nyhtegale singes, the wodes waxen grene. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxv. 117 Laneres, sagres, sperhawkes, nyghtgales syngand, and papeiays spekand. 1435 Misyn Fire of Love 102 It is sayd þe nyghtgale to songe & melody all nyght is gyfyn. c 1450 Holland Howlat 715 The blyth Lark that begynnis, And the Nychtgalis. 1483 Cath. Angl. 254/2 A Nyghte gale; filomena. |