arch. Forms: 3 ampuile, 3–6 ampulle, 4 -olie, -olle, 5 ampole, -ull, 5–6 ample, 6 ampell, -ul, 7–8 ampoule, -oulle, (9 ampul). [a. OFr. ampole, ampoule:—L. ampulla (see next word), now commonly used instead; ampul having been obs. since the Reformation, exc. as Fr., or as an ecclesiastical revival.]
† 1. A small bottle or flask; a phial. Obs. in general sense.
c. 1205. Lay., 14993. Þa ampulle heo ut droh. Ibid., 19770. Six ampullen [1250 ampulles] fulle.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 226. Þe tale of his ampuiles.
a. 1325. Metr. Hom., 148. Boystes on himsele he bare, And ampolies, als leche ware.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. v. G vj. An ample or a boxe with oynementis in his lyft hand … and by the ampole ben signefyed the makers of pygmentaries.
2. esp. A vessel for holding consecrated oil, or for other sacred uses. (In this sense ampulla is now commonly used.)
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 11. An hundred of ampolles · on his hat seeten.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 111/3. Thenne a doue descended fro heuen whyche brought the crysme in an ampull.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froissart, I. ccclxix. 606. He was sacred and anoynted, by tharchbysshop of Reynes, with the holy ampell.
1536. in Antiq. Sarisb. (1771), 195. An Ampul of chrystal … containing a Toe of St. Mary Magdalene.
[1644. Evelyn, Diary (1827), I. 108. The Monkes shew’d us the Holy Ampoule.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 643. The vial or ampoulle kept at Reims, with which the kings of France use to be crowned.
1872. O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, 394. Ampuls, standing transparent vials mounted in metals.]
