Obs. Forms: 5 staracle, 6 sterakel, sterracle, stiracle, 5–6 steracle. [Of obscure origin: possibly f. STARE v., after spectacle.] A spectacle, show. Also with play on miracle.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 105. To gon to wakys & to wrestlynges, to daunsynges & to steraclys.
14[?]. Pain Evil Marr., in Mapes’ Poems (Camden), 297. At staracles to sitte on high stages.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, IV. iv. T iij b. Why whippest thou it about, or playest thou thy steracles.
c. 1550. Bale, K. Johan, 996. With ymages and rellyckes he shall wurke sterracles.
1563. Becon, Acts of Christ, Wks. III. 416 b. But to pray at … places … where the deuil worketh stiracles, I would say, miracles,… this passeth al.
