borel

borel

Middle English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French burel (“a kind of coarse woollen cloth”).

Noun

borel

1. coarse woollen cloth; hence, coarse clothing; a garment
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:

     This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,

     I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.

2. A kind of light stuff, of silk and wool.

Adjective

borel

1. ignorant, unlearned; belonging to the laity, a mean fellow
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:

     But sires, by cause I am a burel man,

     At my my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,

     Have me excused of my rude speche.

   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:

     Religioun hath take up al the corn

     Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.