Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 1 folcmót, -ȝemót, 5 folkesmot, 6 folckmote, 6–7 folkemote, (7 erron. falkmoth, 9 folkmuth), 9 folkemote, folcmoot, 6–9 folkmote, 5–9 folkmoot. [OE. folc-mót, -ȝemót, f. folc, FOLK + mót, ȝemót meeting.] A general assembly of the people of a town, city, or shire.
a. 1000. Laws Athelst. (Thorpe), § 12. On þara ȝerefena ȝewitnesse on folcȝemote [v. r. on folcmote].
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 339–40. He anone sent Iohnne Mancell, one of his iustycys, vnto London; & there in ye feest of ye conuersyon of seynt Pawle, by the kynges auctoryte, callyd at Pawlys crosse a folkmoot.
1539. Rastell, Pastyme, Hist. Brit. (1811), 184. Dyuers places of syttynge were appoynted, as well in the Guylhalle and at the Folkemote at Poules crosse.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. iv. 6.
| To which folke-mote they all with one consent, | |
| Sith each of them his Ladie had him by, | |
| Whose beautie each of them thought excellent, | |
| Agreed to trauell, and their fortunes try. |
1642. Antid. to prevent Civ. Wars, 9. Commanders of the Militia in every County were elected … in a full Falkmoth.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 111–2, note. He … directed a folkmote, or common hall, to be held on Sunday the 27th of that month.
1848. Lytton, Harold, IV. v. I will ask the king’s leave to go to my East Anglians, and hold there a folkmuth, administer justice, redress grievances, and make thegn and ceorl content with Harold, their earl.
1892. Tennyson, Foresters, I. iii.
| How should we cope with John? The London folkmote | |
| Has made him all but king, and he hath seized | |
| On half the royal castles. |
Hence † Folk-mooter, ? a parochial politician.
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1847), 228/1. These matters are not for pragmatics and folkmooters to babble in.
