nyghtertale

Middle English

FWOTD – 17 March 2023

Alternative forms

• naghtertale, nighter tal, nightertale, nighter tale, nightirtale, nightir tale, niȝtter-tale, nihttertale, nither-tale, nyghtertall, nyghtertayll, nyghtirtale, nyȝter-tale, nythertale

Etymology

A calque of Old Norse náttarþel, as if nyght +‎ -er +‎ tale.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnixtərˌtaːl(ə)/, /ˈniːxtərˌtaːl(ə)/

Noun

nyghtertale (uncountable)

1. 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

• English: nightertale

References

• “nighter-tāle, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.