Forms: α. 4–6 vitaile (4 -aille), vitayle (5 -aylle), 5 vitayll, 5–6 -ail(l; 4–6 vytayle (5–6 -aylle, 5 Sc. wytaylle), 5–6 vytaile (5 -aille), 5 -ayl(l; 4–5 vetaille (4 -aile), 5 vetayle, 6 -ayll; 5 Sc. wittail(e, -aill, wytaill, 6 vittayle, -aile, 6–7 vittail; 5 Sc. wictaill, 6 -ayll, -ayle, vectayll, 6–7 victail. β. (Chiefly Sc.) 5 vitt-, vet-, 6 vict-, 5–6 vyt-, vitale; 5 wit(t)-, wyt-, wet-, wictale. γ. 5–6 vitall (6 -al, witall), 5 vytall, 6 -al; 5–6 vitell (5 vet-, wetell), vitel, 5 fyt-, 6 vytel(l; 5 wetyl; 6 vitoll. δ. 5 vittale, 5–6 vittall, 5 (9) vittal; 5–6 vittell (5 wytt-, 6 wett-, vyttell), 6, 8, 9 dial., vittel, 6–7, 8–9 dial. vittle (7 victle), 9 dial. fittle, wittle. ε. 6 wyttuel, wittual, 7 vittual, 8 vitual; 6 victuayle, Sc. wictuale, victuale, -wale, -uel(l, 5–7 victuall (6 wictuall, -wall), 6 vyctual, 6– victual. [a. AF. and OF. vitaile, -aille (OF. also vitale, -alle, vittalle, victaille) fem.:—late L. victuālia, neut. pl. of post-classical L. victuālis, f. victus food, sustenance: cf. Prov. vit(o)alha, Sp. vitualla, Pg. vitualha, It. vettovaglia. The variant OF. and mod.F. form victuaille has been assimilated to the L. original, and a similar change in spelling has been made in English, while the pronunciation still represents the forms vittel, vittle. (See also VITALY.)]
1. collect. Whatever is normally required, or may naturally be used, for consumption in order to support life; food or provisions of any kind.
Occasionally applied to food for animals, but more commonly restricted to that of persons.
α. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 10555. Y was wunt to lede vytayle To knyȝtes þat were yn batayle.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 3025. Al þus þemperur haþ him diȝt … Þar to schipes wiþ gode vitaile.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1488, Hypsipyle. Askynge hem a-noon If they were broken or woo begoon Or hade nede of lodesmen or vitayle.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 371. Devourours of vetaile þat fouȝten er þei paide.
a. 1417. York Memor. Bk. (Surtees), I. 222. Fysshe and other vitaill ar ofte tymes conceled … in this citee.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 98. He schuld haue vii ȝere plenteþe of corne and all oþer vytayle.
a. 1500. in C. Trice-Martin, Chanc. Proc. 15th C. (1904), 4. Yf the dette be surmysed to growe by the bying or sellyng of any maner of vetayll.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xlvi. 156. He shall departe in this lytell shyppe … and take vytayle in to it for there prouysyon.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 105. By that waie neither man nor vitaill could passe or come.
1548. Patten, Exped. Scotl., Pref. a viij b. The time and place whan and whither they shall cum, and with how much prouision of vitail.
1592. Kyd, Sol. & Pers., III. i. 50. Footemen … well exercised in war; And, as it seemes, they want no needful vittaile.
β. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 168. Quhar thai mycht get Till thame and thairis vittale and met.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxx. (Theodera), 425. Þai ordenyt hyr þare out-rydere, Þar witale to þe house to by.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1873. Syr Alers,… with swith grete vetale, Come that kastel to asayle.
1487. Act 3 Hen. VII., c. ix. § 3. That every freman … may lede, carie, and goo, with his or their Vetale, Ware or merchaundise.
a. 1500. Bernard, de cura rei fam. (E.E.T.S.), 110. Geff thow … hase to sel wetale in gret substance, Se be na way na derth þat thou desyre.
γ. c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5176. In þat prouyns is plenty all of prise vitell, Of corne, & of catell.
1472. Presentmts. of Juries, in Surtees Misc. (1890), 23. We say yt yer have boght of late … unsesanabyll wetyl, yt is to say, feche & herrynge, bothe Thom Smythe & John Clyffe. Ibid., 27. For brynghyng in of wetell for the welfare of comhons.
c. 1475. Henryson, Fables, Twa Mice, 102 (Bann. MS.). Thair harbery wes tane In till a spens with vitall or grit plentie.
1513–4. Act 5 Hen. VIII., c. 6. The great scarcyte of grayne and vytell at this present tyme.
1531. in J. Bulloch, Pynours (1887), 61. The berne of salt … and all wther witall … borne be the Pynouris.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iii. 74. In so much that vytel and nuryschment suffycyent for them can skant here be found.
1570. Levins, Manip., 13. Vitall, penu, victus.
δ. 1480. Wyntoun’s Cron., I. 564 (MS. E.). Within þat ile ar citeis ten Stuffit with wittall gud and men.
1482. Cely Pafers (Camden), 108. They schall lacke no men nor vettell.
1494. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 247. For a bayte that careit the wrychtis and thar wyttell to the loche, v s.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 41. Twise a day giue him fresh vittle and drinke.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 88. The iland Zante hathe all theire provition of vittell from thence.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Maiden’s Blush, 355. Th’ Heav’nly Herald … sees there the Brethren lying Along the Grasse, and busie at their Vittle.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. I. 316. For, as we said, he always chose To carry Vittle in his Hose.
1723. Swift, Stella at Woodpark, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 40. I must confess, your wine and vittle I was too hard upon a little.
1748. Mary Leapor, Poems Sev. Occasions, 124.
| But when you gather Strength a little, | |
| Can walk abroad and eat your Vittle? |
1789. Burns, Robin shure in Hairst, iv. Robin promised me A’ my winter vittle.
1847–. in dial. glossaries, etc. (Worc., Hereford, Shropsh., Warw., Gloc., Dorset) in the form fittle.
1881. Gd. Words, 846/1. It’s a pity as you’ve no stomach to yer vittle.
ε. 1523. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 39. The Frenche men … lye yn wayte … to destroye the Conductours of our victuayle.
1559–66. in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844), 71. To hinder the victuall from comeing to Edinburgh.
1570–6. W. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 130. Deuouring and consuming … the victuall of the countrey.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1247. Germenchius hath put in three moneths victuall into Hust in Transylvania.
1627. Bacon, Sylva, § 649. The Making of Things Inalimental, to become Alimental, may be an Experiment of great Profit, for Making new Victual.
1681. H. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 92. The cheapness of Victual, and the want of Labourers.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 60. It might seem to prohibit the buying of grain and other victual.
1817. Byron, Beppo, xxix. And Laura waited long, and wept a little,… She almost lost all appetite for victual.
1856. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-bks. (1870), I. 111. A refreshment-room, with drinks and cakes and pastry, but … no substantial victual.
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 201. A fair-hair’d youth, that in his hand Bare victual for the mowers.
† b. Produce of the ground capable of being used as food. Obs.
White victual (quot. 1799), = next.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Former Age, 36. Ther as vitayle is ek so skars and thinne Þat nat but mast or apples is ther inne. Ibid. (c. 1386), Clerk’s T., 3. Ther is at the West side of Ytaille … A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Plantations (Arb.), 531. Then consider, what Victuall or Esculent Things there are, which grow speedily, and within the yeere.
1627. May, Lucan, IV. 99. Nor can the souldiers goe To forrage: the drown’d fields no vittaile leaue.
1798. Malthus, Popul. (1878), 228. This may be justly attributed to the effects of the scarcity and bad victual in the year 1783.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 147. The land is pulverized and better made for the succeeding crop of white victual.
c. Sc. Grain, corn. ? Obs.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 171. Alsua tha sal haue the tend vitale for ijch of bere and mele.
1557. Rec. Inverness (New Spald. Cl.), I. 7. To … pay Isbell Damster the hyest price of ane boll wyttuell and thre pects to entres.
1585. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 292/1. For payment … of aucht chalderis 3 bollis wictuall, thairof 45 bollis beir and the remanent meill.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Robert I., 36. It is statute be the king, that all they quha buyes victuall … fra burgessis at their granares, they … may carie that victuall quhere they please.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xxiv. § 1 (1699), 119. Usury is that Crime … committed in Bargains of Victual, or Tacks. Ibid., II. xiv. § 1. 211. A landed man, whose Rent exceeds a thousand Merks, or ten Chalders of Victual.
1726. P. Walker, Life A. Peden, in Biog. Presbyt. (1827), I. 53. He enquired at Mrs. Steil, if she wanted a Servant for threshing Victual?
1785. Burns, 3rd Epist. to Lapraik, vii. [Till] a’ the vittle [be] in the yard, An’ theekit right.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 99. In drying on the iron floor, the victual must be constantly turned.
1812. G. Chalmers, Dom. Econ. Gt. Brit., 262. Though neither the nominal, nor the real, prices of victual were equal to those of the times of queen Anne.
1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, xlii. He has been very kind to the poor, having divided five load of victual among all the needful in the parish.
1843. Report Jedburgh Thirlage Trial, 8. A portion of that corn or victual, ground at the mills, which is kept by the miller.
† d. (See quot.) Obs.–0
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 241/1. Vitell, or Viandes, the term for Hawks meat.
2. pl. Articles of food; supplies, or various kinds, of provisions; in later use esp. articles of ordinary diet prepared for use.
α. 13[?]. K. Alis., 855 (Laud MS.). And Olyfauntz & ek Camayles, Boþe hij charged wiþ vitailes.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1121. Wel þei were warnestured of vitayles i-now, plentiuosly for al peple.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 55. Whanne derþe of vitailles is in al Engelond aboute, þere is þe lasse i-solde.
c. 1444. Lydg., in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 220. To chese suych vitaylles ther braynes wer to woode.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xxx. 142. Cartes shal folowe for to bryng and arriue the vitailles fro the shippes.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxi. 213. They bare all in to ye shyp, & vytaylles suffycyent.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 77. The vytayles (especially the byskette breade) corrupted by takynge water.
1596. Bp. W. Barlow, Three Serm., ii. 47. Among all other, Famine and Dearth of vittails is not the least.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Sir T. Wyatt, Wks. 1873, III. 103. Good victailes makes good blood.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 85. Which I paide…, Because they should not think I came to sharke Only for vittailes.
β. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 92. Schir Eduard gert men gang and se All the vitalis of that cite.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. 5027. [He] Saw his wictalis war nere gane, And hop of reskew had he nane.
1453–4. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), I. 280. That al maner of viteiloures … shulde have bene arrested by har bodys … that byinn of them any vittalis.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxxxi. 15. I will blesse hir vytales with increase, & wil satisfie hir poore with bred.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., ii. (1870), 127. In the whych is vsed good fashion and good vytales.
1575. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 97. Mye miserable Mistrisse … is oftentymes driven very harde … for her vittales and lodginge.
γ. c. 1400. Melayne, 1195. He garte dele his vetells then Firste amanges oure wonded men.
1401. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 15. We faylyth vitels and men. Ibid., 16. They mowe have godes and fytelles plente.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. Caoursin’s Siege of Rhodes, ¶ 3. Also they lakked vytalles.
1510. Sel. Cases Crt. Star Chamber (Selden), 205. So he toke fro many pore men their vitals to ther grete hurte.
1545. Brinklow, Compl., ii. 13. In London and other placys ther be many offended with the great price of vitells.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 83. We could not gitt any vitels. Ibid., 86. We ever had vitals reddie dreste for 3 dayes.
δ. 1554–9. Songs & Ball. Phil. & Mary (Roxb.), 12. And dear cheape of vittels withe the thowe hast brought To the towne.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 46. With plate, monny, harnes, horse, & wettelles.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 98. To thy sheepe go and looke, for dogs will haue vittles.
1606. Sir G. Goosecappe, i. Good companions yfaith; I see you come not for vittles.
1621. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), I. 271. Wee had great store of fresh victles.
c. 1645. T. Tully, Siege of Carlisle (1840), 27. One John Head … who pretended to fetch vittells out of the Country.
1696. Monthly Mercury, VII. 8. We saw … vast Provision of Vittles and Ammunition.
1731–8. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 112. I would rather want Vittles than Elbow-Room.
1838. Jas. Grant, Sk. Lond., 171. You knows that no one can hact well without vittals, and I have not had a mouthful since yesterday.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., ix. Dinner was announced by Bailey junior in these terms,—‘The wittles is up!’
1892. ‘Q’ (Quiller-Couch), I saw Three Ships, vi. 106. And so say I, wi’ all these vittles cryin’ out to be ate.
ε. 1523. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 39. As for victuaylys in our waye we shuld be sure none to fynde.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 452 b. The Frenchemen, to the intent they might have victualles in a readines [etc.].
1596. Edward III., IV. ii. 4. That neither vituals nor supply of men May come to succour this accursed towne.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 422. Great store of victuals and all things necessary.
1618. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), I. 45. When the Bannyans sayle by it they have vittuals overboard … as a sacrifice.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 101. The Wages of a … Labourer … is 4s. per week without Victuals.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, I. vi. I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 299. The young animals … began to dispute about their victuals, although they were given more than they could use.
1798. Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., I. 56. She once lost a salt spoon by one of them, whom Master George thought proper to bring to her door for cold victuals.
1840. Hood, Up Rhine, 218. It seems to me a very odd proceeding for … a town to lay a tax on the persons who bring it victuals.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xv. There was … decking of the hall in the best hangings…; cooking of victuals, broaching of casks.
† b. Clerk of the victuals, = the victualler of Calais (see VICTUALLER 2 a note). Obs.
c. 1570. R. Turpyn, in Chron. Calais (Camden), Introd. 18. Havinge ther another offyce of the Quenes Majesty called by the name of Clarke of the Victuals.
† c. At victuals, engaged in eating. Obs.
1681. H. Foulis, Hist. Romish Treasons, 40. Books read to him whilst he was at Victuals.
† 3. pl. a. Animals serving for food. Obs.
c. 1550. Disc. Common Weal Eng., ii. (1893), 60. The more husbandrie is occupied, the more vniversall brede should be of all victualles, as of neate, shepe, swyne, gese, eges, butter, and chese.
1641. More’s Edw. V., 104. The Pageants were amaking day and night at Westminster, and vitailes killed which afterwards was cast away.
† b. Military stores; munitions of war. Obs.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., iv. 10. Moreover he added, that they had great abundance of Victuals, amongst the which there were 12 Basilisks.
4. An article of food. rare.
1558. Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., ix. 50. This heauenly foode is … a strong vitale, making vs able to endure the painful iorney to the kingdome of heauen.
1829. Carlyle, Misc., German Playwrights (1840), II. 50. The Germans, who instead of a measurable and sufferable spicing of theatric matter,… have in fact nothing else to live on but that highly unnutritive victual.
5. attrib. and Comb. (chiefly Sc.), as victual-dealer, -house, land-male, -merchant, office, -rent, -scanting adj., silver, stipend, wain.
1496. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 310. Giffin to the skippar of the schip … for Ȝonk Gherardis mennis fraucht and wittalis siluir, vij li.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 105. The Female … espying hir time, when and how she may come to the Lawder or Vittailehouse.
1592. in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1892), 90/2. The victuall land maillis of Clestrane benorthe the burne.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., Wks. (Grosart), IV. 95. If there were any, that had repining victuall-scanting Maisters tyrannizing neuerthelesse for their work.
1600. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1890), 354/2. Pro preservatione navium contra tempestates et lie victuell-housis.
1668. in Extr. St. P. rel. Friends, III. (1912), 278. Of late since his Ma[jes]ties imployment has slackn’d at the Victuall Office.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., II. vi. § 40. If the landlord refuse to receive his victual-rent when offered to him in due time.
1801. Farmer’s Mag., Jan., 28. The farmer or victual-merchant. Ibid. The profession of the farmer or the victual-dealer.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xlv. There was no knowing how long he might be in paying the next term’s victual stipend.
1891. Doyle, White Company, xix. The rogue got between me and the nearest French victual wain.
Hence Victual-less a., destitute of victuals.
1831. Carlyle, in Froude, First 40 Years (1882), II. 165. I arrived at Liverpool … quite sleepless, and but for your dinner,… quite victual-less.
