gentle bloodn.
/ˌdʒɛntl ˈblʌd/, /ˈdʒɛntl ˌblʌd/, U.S. /ˌdʒɛn(t)əl ˈbləd/, /ˈdʒɛn(t)əl ˌbləd/ 1. Noble or upper-class ancestry or lineage. Hence: persons of gentle or noble ancestry viewed collectively; the gentry or nobility. Now archaic and historical.Cf. blue blood n. 1.See also the note at gentle adj. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] > noble lineage
athelc885
paragea1275
gentle bloodc1300
ancestry?a1400
pedigreec1460
birtha1513
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] > noble class
gentle bloodc1300
gentricec1400
nobility?a1475
nobleness1490
noblessea1500
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > aristocracy or upper class > gentry > [noun]
gentle bloodc1300
genta1425
gentrya1525
gentility1583
gallantry1609
gentlery1609
second nobles1625
c1300 St. Margarete (Harl.) l. 47 in O. Cockayne Seinte Marherete (1866) 25 If heo were of gentil blod, his wyf heo scholde beo.
c1455 Speculum Misericordie in PMLA (1939) 54 946 (MED) Of Gentel blood for I was boorne, I was ryght prowd and bare mee heye; Poure men and syke I hadde in skorne.
1586 J. Ferne Blazon of Gentrie i. 22 By my vathers zoule, they semen most of churles, not of gentle blood.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd v. ii. 77 Sir William's vertuous, and of gentle Blood.
1823 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater (ed. 2) 36 They treated me with a respect not usually paid to purses as light as mine; as if my scholarship were sufficient evidence, that I was of ‘gentle blood’.
1890 Mrs. H. Wood House of Halliwell III. viii. 207 Your friends will look at position as well as gentle blood.
2006 Renaissance Drama 35 44 This play puts gentle blood to the test, moving to define temperance as against land and wealth as the real essence of gentle blood.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] > noble person or man
earleOE
wyeOE
freeOE
nobleman?c1225
athelc1275
noblec1325
douzepersc1330
freelya1350
hathela1350
gentlec1400
nobleness1490
gentle blood1575
comes1583
altezza1595
birth1596
nobility1841
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > aristocracy or upper class > [noun] > member of
optimate1574
gentle blood1575
patrician1631
grandlinga1637
(man, woman) of fashion1702
Brahmani1704
ruffled shirt1754
aristocrat1789
thoroughbred1817
Brahmin1823
big bug1826
ruffle shirt1830
ruffle-shirter1842
blue blood1850
aristo1864
upper1955
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie sig. A. iv It is a Noble sport... A sport for Noble peeres, a sport for gentle bloods.
1615 J. Greene Refut. Apol. Actors 17 Gentle-bloods, and lusty swash-bucklers.
1845 E. Robinson Whitehall I. xxii. 248 A king's neck is no broader than a knave's; nay, the gentle bloods do pride themselves on slender and shapely ones.
1915 H. MacGrath Voice in Fog iii. 46 Thomas' full name was a rosary..of yeomen, of soldiers, of farmers, of artists, of gentle bloods, of dreamers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1300