n.
Pe pl. bolleʒ; WA pl. bolis, boles
'tree trunk' (Modern English bole)
PGmc Ancestor
?*ƀol-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
bolr, bulr ‘tree trunk; torso’
(ONP bolr, bulr (sb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
Far bulur, Icel bolur, Norw bul, Dan bul, Sw bål
OE Cognate
?bol 'stem'
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
BB2ac
Attested once in late OE at Med3 41.1; widely, if not commonly, used by 15c. in ME (esp. in N/EM texts). Onomastic evidence in EPNE is mainly N/EM, but VEPN cites more widespread material (incl. Glo. and Ess.)
Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus
Gaw 766; Pe 76; Cl 622; WA 2851, 4851, *4994, etc.
On the sense at 4851, which Skeat WA misidentifies, see DTP (4978n). DTP introduces a further instance at WA 4994 by emending treis to *bolis (restoring the alliteration of the line).