| 释义 |
▪ I. † ˈlowbell, low-bell, n. Obs.
Also 6 lowe-bell, 6–7 low-bel, 7 logh-bell, loobel, loubel(l.
[? f. low a. + bell.
On the assumption that sense 2 is the original, the word has generally been referred to low n.2; cf. Phillips (ed. Kersey 1706), ‘Luff or Lough, a Light or Flame, to Fowl with a Low-bell’. But it is difficult to see how sense 1 can be a transferred application of sense 2, while the reverse development would be quite normal.]
1. A small bell, esp. a cow-bell or sheep-bell; jocularly, a bell generally.
1578G. Best in Hakluyt's Voy. (1600) III. 59 The captaine..knowing wel how they greatly delighted in our toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a prety lowbell, making signes that he would giue him the same that would come and fetch it. [Afterwards: he rang a louder bell.] 1598Florio, Sampogna,..a bell hanged about sheepe or goates, a lowe-bell. a1625Fletcher Woman's Prize i. iii, Peace gentle low-bell. a1634Randolph Muse's Looking-gl. iii. i, I'le get a high crown'd hat with five Low-bels. 1661Morgan Sph. Gentry iv. iii. 33 Two cowes..with collers and lowbells. 1664Cotton Scarron. 66 In a pretty wooden steeple A Low-Bell hung to call the people.
2. A bell used in fowling at night.
The process of fowling with ‘low-bell and hand-net’ is elaborately described in Dict. Rusticum et Urbanicum (1704). The birds are to be stupefied with terror by the noise of the bell and the sudden glare from lights contained in a tin-lined box serving as a dark lantern; when they are thus rendered motionless, the net is to be thrown over them.
1581Act 23 Eliz. c. 10 §6 Others, which..take any Partridges or Feasaunts by night vnder any Tramel, Lowbell, Roadenete or other Engyn. 1589Rider Bibl. Schol., A Lowebell to catch birdes with all in the night, campinula. 1607Hieron Defence i. 210 But belike M. H. thought, that the word accursed, would sound both lowder and fowler, and so amaze men (as a loobel doth Larks) till he threw his nett upon them. 1661Boyle Style of Script. 27 Some he catches..with frights (as Black-birds with..a Low-Bell). 1707Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. iii. vii. 313 The Nobility and Gentry have their..Guns for Birding, Lowbells [etc.]. 1709W. King Art Love i. 47 The fowler's low-bell robs the lark of sleep. 1792Osbaldistone Brit. Sportsm. 445 The sound of the low-bell causes the birds to lie close, and not to stir when the net is over them. 1821Sporting Mag. IX. 11 Hays, nets, low⁓bells, hare-pipes.
fig.1653Milton Hirelings (1659) 132 Now commonly he who desires to be a minister, looks not at the work, but at the wages; and by that lure or loubel may be toald from parish to parish all the town over.
▪ II. ˈlowbell, v.
Now only dial.
[f. prec.]
†1. trans.
a. To capture (birds) by the use of a low-bell.
b. transf. To scare or bewilder as the lowbeller does birds. Obs.
1581Lambarde Eiren. iv. iv. (1588) 444 If any person whatsoever, have taken..any Phesants or Partriches..by lowbelling or tramelling. 1642Broken Title Episcop. Inher. §2 A muster of a few Exoticke obsolete Saxon termes to Low-bell his Ignorant Examiner. 1651R. Child in Hartlib's Legacy (1655) 91 Larks..may be taken in snares, or by day-nets, Low-belling, &c. 1660H. More Myst. Godl. To Rdr 23 Weak Christians..are so low-belled by this terror as to be taken up and captivated by the Church of Rome. Ibid. 24 [They] do not low-bell men into their own errour by either uncharitable censurings or bloudy persecutions.
2. dial. To greet with ‘rough music’ (i.e. beating of pots and kettles, blowing of horns, etc.) as an expression of popular disapprobation.
Current in Northants, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire: see E.D.D.
Hence ˈlowbeller, † (a) one who uses a lowbell in fowling (obs.); (b) dial. one who joins in ‘low-belling’ an unpopular person.
1581Act 23 Eliz. c. 10 §6 This acte shal not..extende to Lowbellers, Tramellers or others, which shall vnwillingly happen to take any Partridges. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Low-beller, one that goes a Fowling with a Light and a Bell. |