Obs. Forms: 4 le(e)fsel, levesselle, levecel, 4–5 levesel, 5 leef-sele, levesell, lef-sale, lefe sal(e. [? repr. OE. *léafsele, f. léaf LEAF + sęle hall; cf. Sw. löfsal, Da. løvsal.] A bower of leaves; a canopy or lattice.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 448. Such a lefsel of lof neuer lede hade.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 141. The clerkes hors ther as it stood ybounde Behynde the Mille, vnder a lefsel. Ibid., Pars. T., ¶ 337. As the gaye leefsel atte Tauerne is signe of the wyn that is in the Celer.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 337. A playne, Full of floures … With lef-sales vppon lofte lustie and faire, Folke to refresshe for faintyng of hete.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 600. To Bachus signe & to þe leuesel His youþe him haliþ.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 300/2. Levecel be-forne a wyndowe, or other place, umbraculum.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxii. 215. She hath the keyes and leith hem vnder the leuesell of the bed vnto the morow.
