English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English stonidelf, stanidelf, from Old English stānġedelf (stone-quarry), equivalent to stone +‎ delf.

Noun edit

stonedelf (plural stonedelves)

  1. (now chiefly dialectal) A stone or rock quarry
    • 1837, The Annual Register:
      They then all ran down to a quarry known by the name of Pilkington's stonedelf, where some men were at work; she called, and they came up to her; []
    • 1927, original 1622, George Henry Tupling, The Economic History of Rossendale, page 252:
      Allotment to Edward Rawstorne of Rawtenstall, Esq., and Edward his son of " twenty one acres of land of the pasture as belongeth to the said Henry for the yerely rent of ijd. as the same is now mered forth together with a ratable part of the stonedelves therto belonginge Provyded allwayes that if in the end of the said division the said pasture doe not extendto give the last man his ratable part therof []

Anagrams edit