sb. and a. Obs. Also 4–6 -elle, 4–7 -ell, 6–7 lorrel(l. [ME. lorel, f. loren, pa. pple. of LEESE v., as LOSEL from the variant losen.]

1

  A.  sb. A worthless person, rogue, blackguard; = LOSEL. In 16th c. often opposed to lord.

2

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 123. ‘Lewede lorel!’ quod he, ‘luite lokestou on the bible.’

3

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. iv. 13 (Camb. MS.). I se þat euery lorel shapith hym to fynde owt newe fraudes.

4

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 191. Herefore ben many proude & lecherous lorelis founden & dowid wiþ temperal & worldly lordischipis.

5

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., x. 28 (Harl. MS.). If þou be so bold to telle of me, I shall breke þine hed; what lorell art thou!

6

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), II. 320. To lorellys often the lorde moste lowt.

7

1522.  More, De Quat. Noviss., Wks. 84/1. While the lorel playth the lord in a stage playe.

8

a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iii. 14. I am laureate, I am no lorelle.

9

1530.  Palsgr., 659. I play the lorell or the loyterer.

10

1559.  Mirr. Mag., Dk. York, xx. 61 b. That cruell Clifford, lord, nay Lorell wilde.

11

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., July, 93. Thou speakes lyke a lewde lorrell.

12

1647.  G. W., Pluto’s Progr. thro. Gt. Brit., 15.

        Diggon thou talk’st like a Lorrell,
Shewing that thy wit is borrell.

13

  b.  Cock Lorel. The name of the owner and captain of the boat containing jovial reprobates of all trades, in a humorous and sarcastic poem Cocke Lorelles Bote (printed by Wynkyn de Worde c. 1515), partly imitating the Shyp of Folys. Afterwards used allusively with the force of ‘rogue, reprobate.’

14

c. 1515.  Cocke Lorell’s B. (1843), 4. Here is fyrst, Cocke Lorell the knyght.

15

c. 1545.  Doctor Double Ale, 390, in Hazl., E. P. P. (1866), III. 319.

16

a. 1577.  Gascoigne, Fable of F. Geronimi, Wks. (1587), 206. A peece of Cocklorels Musicke … such as I might be ashamed to publish in this company.

17

1577.  Fulke, Confut. Purg., 376. Then you shall not neede to rowe in Cockelaurels bote.

18

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 394. This clownish Cocklorrell therefore wandring abroad over hilles and dales.

19

1621.  B. Jonson, Gipsies Metam., Wks. 1640, II. 70. Cock-Lorrell would needs have the Devill his guest.

20

  B.  adj. Good-for-nothing; = LOSEL B.

21

1590.  Lodge, Euphues’ Gold. Leg. (1592), E 2. Ah Lorrell lad, what makes thee Herry loue?

22

1614.  J. Davies (Heref.), Eclogue, 83. An Heydeguies, Pipt by Tom-piper, or a Lorrel-lad.

23

  Hence † Lorelship, rascality, lewdness.

24

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 156. Þei wasten pore mennus liflode in hordom & glotonye & lernen lorelschipe.

25