heapmeal

heapmeal

English

Alternative forms

• heap-meal, heap-meale (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English *hepemele, from Old English hēapmǣlum (“in heaps, heapmeal”), equivalent to heap +‎ -meal.

Adverb

heapmeal (comparative more heapmeal, superlative most heapmeal)

1. (rare, largely obsolete) In heaps, or heap by heap; in large quantities or numbers.
   • 1902, Old South Church (Boston, Mass.), Old South leaflets:

     There was then no delay, so that greater hosts came heap-meal from the nations which we mentioned before ; and the folk which came hither began to wax and spread so much that they were a great terror to the same inhabitants of the land [...]

   • 1906, Charles Montagu Doughty, The dawn in Britain:

     Long dures, mongst the forefighters, of both parts, Dread strife, before the wall, for Tola's corse. Almains and Rhaetians, heapmeal, fall thereon, Till the day's end; [...]

   • 1939, Martin Gilkes, Tribute to England: an anthology:

     Men gaze on Caradoc's helm, of lucid steel, Whose crest that dragon of his royal house; And golden belt of strength, and tremble Romans: And the king's glaive, which heapmeal hath slain soldiers.

Usage notes

• Often used in the phrase by heapmeal.