a. Obs. Forms: 1 bilewit(e, bilwit, 1–2 bylewite, 2 bylehwit(t), 3 bilewhit, -ehwit. [Etymology doubtful: prob. f. OTeut. *bili-, cogn. w. OIr. bil good, mild, and found in OHG. billich, mod.G. billig just, reasonable + WIT; giving the sense ‘mild of wit or mind.’ Cf. G. bilwiz ‘a good friendly house-spirit,’ Grimm, Germ. Myth. (ed. 4), III. 137 (Eng. ed. II. 473), and BILLY-BLIND. The interpretation ‘white of bill,’ like a young bird (f. OE. bile + hwít), was current at an early date, as shown by 12th c. spellings; cf. F. bec-jaune, G. gelb-schnabel, though these are depreciative rather than laudatory; and it must be noted that the earlier spellings had not hwit, but wite.]
Mild, gentle, clement; innocent, simple.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, IV. xxiv. in Sweet, Reader, 50. Swa swa he hluttre mode and bilewite ond smyltre willsumnesse Dryhtne ðeowde.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xi. 29. Biluit [ic] am. [c. 975 Rushw. G. mild, c. 1000 Ags. G. bilwite, v.r. bylewite, c. 1150 Royal MS. bylewit, c. 1160 Hatton bylehwit.]
c. 975. Rushw. G., Matt. x. 16. Bilwite swa swa culfra. [c. 1000 Ags. G. bylwite, c. 1150 Royal MS. bylewitte, c. 1160 Hatton bylehwitte.]
1123. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1041. He wæs swiðe god man and swiðe bilehwit.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6654. Shepisshe & bilewhit, All clene off ille þohhtess.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 22. Þe engles … sungen on hire bodi bilehwit and blesceden hit.
