lulln.1
/lʌl/, U.S. /ləl/ 1. † b. Soothing drink, ‘nepenthe’. Obsolete.
a. Something which lulls; spec. a lulling sound, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > [noun] > calming person or thing
quietera1542
cooler1592
allayment1609
allay1614
julepa1640
composer1649
calmer1653
lull1721
tranquillizer1800
calmant1811
steadier1864
calmative1870
quietive1873
soothment1900
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [noun] > that which induces sleep
lull1721
somnivolency1748
sleep-thorn1889
1721 E. Young Revenge v. ii Yonder lull Of falling waters tempted me to rest.
1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 51 Sweet Isabella's untouch'd cheek..Fell thin as a young mother's, who doth seek By every lull to cool her infant's pain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] > a drink of > with drugs added
lull1659
posta1667
Mickey Finn1918
1659 Lond. Chanticleers ix. 20 Mine Host Welcom has a Cup of blessed Lull.
2. A lulled or stupefied condition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > [noun] > state of physical stupefaction
dazedness1340
excessa1387
stupora1398
stupefaction?a1425
dazingc1522
damp1542
daziness1554
dazzling1581
stupidity1603
stupidity?1615
stupidness1619
stupification1650
dream1717
dazzlement1841
daze1855
dazement1855
lull1856
mazement1901
1856 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater (rev. ed.) in Select. Grave & Gay V. 238 I fleeted back into the same opium lull.
1902 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 553/1 I sat listening in a kind of lull of terror and disgust.
3. A brief period of intermission or quiescence in a storm. Also figurative. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > temporary cessation of activity or operation > [noun] > a temporary cessation of activity or operation > period of inactivity or quiescence
lull1815
slack1851
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [noun] > short spell of > in a storm
lithec1300
lucid interval1656
lull1815
1815 Ld. Dudley Let. 15 Apr. (1840) 93 What..so many wiser people mistook for a calm, turns out to be only a lull.
1851 ‘L. Mariotti’ Italy in 1848 ii. 90 The lull that occurred in Lombardy..was sheer dread and horror of French interference.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. iii. 69 There was a lull on the surface of affairs.
1901 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 196 There seemed for a time a lull in the storm.
1904 Pittsburgh Gaz. 29 July 4 Construction trains that will be run during the lull hours of the day.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
lulln.2
/lʌl/, U.S. /ləl/ Whaling.
A tube to convey blubber into the hold. Also lull-bag.
ΚΠ
1836 Uncle Philip's Conversat. Whale Fishery 99 From the speck-trough, [the pieces of blubber]..pass through the lull, into tubs fixed in the hold.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Lull-bag, a wide canvas hose in whalers for conducting blubber into the casks, as it is ‘made off’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
lullv.1
/lʌl/, U.S. /ləl/ 1. transitive. To soothe with sounds or caresses; to induce to sleep or to pleasing quiescence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)]
softa1225
stilla1325
coolc1330
accoya1375
appeasec1374
attemperc1386
lullc1386
quieta1398
peasea1400
amesec1400
assuagec1400
mesec1400
soberc1430
modify?a1439
establish1477
establish1477
pacify1484
pacify1515
unbrace?1526
settle1530
steady1530
allay1550
calm1559
compromitc1574
restore1582
recollect1587
serenize1598
smooth1604
compose1607
recompose1611
becalm1613
besoothe1614
unprovokea1616
halcyon1616
unstrain1616
leniate1622
tranquillize1623
unperplexa1631
belull1631
sedate1646
unmaze1647
assopiatea1649
serenate1654
serene1654
tranquillify1683
soothe1697
unalarm1722
reserene1755
quietize1791
peacify1845
quieten1853
conjure1856
peace1864
disfever1880
patise1891
de-tension1961
mellow1974
the world > action or operation > inaction > quietness or tranquillity > make quiet or tranquil [verb (transitive)]
still1300
peasec1350
accoya1375
coyc1374
lullc1386
quiet1423
acquieta1535
calm1559
becalm1613
compose1615
slumber1622
unruffle1629
quieten1759
bestill1760
quietize1791
peace1864
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (transitive)] > put to or cause to sleep > induce or lull to sleep
lullc1386
wrap1399
sopite1542
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleep1594
soporate1623
belull1631
consopite1647
c1386 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 495 And gan the childe to kisse And lulled it and after gan it blisse.
c1386 G. Chaucer Merch. T. 579 He lulleth hire he kisseth hire ful ofte.
a1400 Leg. Rood (1871) 133 Feet and fayre hondes Þat nou ben croised I custe hem ofte, I lulled hem I leid hem softe.
a1500 Songs & Carols 15th C. (Percy Soc.) 9 In a manjour of an as Jhesu lay and lullyd was.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 615/2 She can lulle a childe as hansomly aslepe as it were a woman of thurty yere old.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 647 We will seasse till, now sone, the sun be at rest,..And yche lede, as hym list, lullit on slepe.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 8 Minerva luld him on her lappe, and let him many a kisse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. ii. 115 The Virgin voyce That Babies lull a-sleepe. View more context for this quotation
1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding §110 Continual rocking will lull a crying child.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 161. ⁋1 The Musick of the Birds..lull'd me asleep before I was aware of it.
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xiv. 190 And lull the Lord of Thunders in her Arms.
c1718 M. Prior To Young Gent. in Love 4 Take me, my Celia, to thy breast, And lull my wearied soul to rest.
1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well ii. 150 Asleep he sank, Lulled by the fountain in the summer-tide.
1825 D. Welsh Life T. Brown i. 3 His mother used to lull him asleep with The flowers of the forest, a tune, to which [etc.].
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. xii. 172 Lulled in my lap with many a song, It smiled, and tumbled, and grew strong.
2.
a. figurative and in figurative context. †Also with up.
ΚΠ
1576 A. Fleming tr. Chilo in Panoplie Epist. 199 As though you were in likelyhoode to possesse peace, and to be lulled in the lap of safetie.
1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie sig. Riiv So lulde in this my deepe distresse some comfort lende to mee.
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 44 I waz lulld in such liking..ye mooch a doo..had I, to finde me whear I waz.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. iii. sig. P4v The young Musidorus..was yet for some yeares after..lulled vp in as much good luck [etc.].
1615 W. Martyn Hist. Twentie Kings Eng. 178 The said Petition was thereby lulled fast asleepe.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals v. i You may lull your keen regret to slumbering.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 40 Not Ellen's spell had lulled to rest The fever of his troubled breast.
b. esp. To quiet (suspicion) by deception; to delude into a sense of security.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deception by illusion, delusion > deceive, delude [verb (transitive)] > into sense of security
lull1601
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 153 To drinke wine upon an emptie stomacke fasting..dulleth the vigor and quicknesse of the spirit: fitter indeed to bring and lull men asleepe in the bed of securitie.
1636 E. Dacres tr. N. Machiavel Disc. Livy II. 255 Who,..partly beguil'd by some devises hee shall make use of to lull them a sleepe, are easily kept from stirring.
1735 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. III. 299 You..are lulled asleep in a fatal tranquillity.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xxiv. 315 A superior is equally bound to prefer a charge, or to give notice that that charge will be preferred..instead of lulling the offender into security.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany xvi. 254 By a feigned devotion to the interests of his new master, [he] succeeded in lulling all his suspicions.
1900 W. Watt Aberdeen & Banff iv. 85 They were soon lulled into a sense of security.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > other specific conditions
lulla1450
to lie in the woollen1600
to have or get one's sleep out1685
bundle1781
crash1969
a1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 182 My lytylle childe lyth alle lame, That lullyd on my pappys!
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 291 Some there be that lie lulling on the softe pillow of slouth.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 72 He is not lulling on a lewd day bed. View more context for this quotation
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie 30 This pope Gregory..is reported to have lulled night and day..in the armes and embracings of Matilda the countesse.
1774 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 18 July (1778) He has good hands, but a bad head—a crazy couch, dangerous to lull upon.
4. transitive. To bring to a state of comparative quiescence (winds, sea, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > state of sea > [verb (transitive)] > make calm
lull1680
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (transitive)] > make (the weather or elements) calm
stillOE
lown1513
pacifya1522
to lay down1563
strew1594
lull1680
1680 J. Dryden tr. Ovid in J. Dryden et al. tr. Epist. 218 Stay but a little, till the Tempest cease; And the loud winds are lull'd into a peace.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto II cxlviii. 193 Lull'd like the depth of ocean when at rest.
a1854 H. Reed Lect. Eng. Hist. (1855) ix. 283 The tempest, that was only lulled, comes back again.
5.
a. intransitive. Of the sea or wind: To become lulled, or gradually diminished in force or power.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > state of sea > have or be in specific kind of motion [verb (intransitive)] > grow calm
calm1399
to grow down1748
lull1808
smooth1884
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [verb (intransitive)] > become calm (of weather or the elements)
calm1399
falla1400
lown?a1600
to fall calm1601
serenify1612
subside1680
lin1693
flat1748
flatten1748
lull1808
to go down1873
1808 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) 10 The wind lulling, we encamped on the point of an island.
1835 J. L. Motley Let. 30 Apr. in Corr. (1889) I. iii. 57 The wind lulling a little, we became encouraged.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. x. 293 The wind lulled, the rain came down in a deluge.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxiv. 193 This [nipping], too, continued through the day, sometimes lulling for a while into comparative repose.
1869 F. Parkman Discov. Great West xii. 144 When at length the tempest lulled, they re-embarked.
b. figurative. To become quiescent or inactive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > be inactive [verb (intransitive)] > become inactive
sweveOE
quiesce1645
subside1726
swoon1821
lull1850
1850 H. Bushnell God in Christ 287 The instinct of system lulls in its activity, as spiritual life quickens in the soul.
1862 J. M. Neale Hymns Eastern Church 16 Lulling at the death of Constantine, the persecution again broke out in the latter years of his successor Leo.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† lullv.2
Obsolete.
transitive. To pull about (by the ears).
Π
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 614/1 I lolle one aboute the eares. Je luy tire les oreilles. I shall lolle you aboute the eares tyll I make your eares cracke.
1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. ii. sig. C.ij Oh that I had his eare betwene my teeth now, I should shake him euen as a dog that lulleth a sow.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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