nyghtertale
Middle English edit
Alternative forms edit
- naghtertale, nighter tal, nightertale, nighter tale, nightirtale, nightir tale, niȝtter-tale, nihttertale, nither-tale, nyghtertall, nyghtertayll, nyghtirtale, nyȝter-tale, nythertale
Etymology edit
A calque of Old Norse náttarþel, as if nyght + -er + tale.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
nyghtertale (uncountable)
- nighttime
- 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 3, recto, lines 96-97:
- So hoote he loued / that by nyghtertale / He slepte namooꝛe / than dooth a nyghtyngale
- He loved so ardently / that at nighttime / He didn't sleep any more / than a nightingale does.
Descendants edit
- English: nightertale
References edit
- “nighter-tāle, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.