lowbellv.
/ˈləʊbɛl/, U.S. /ˈloʊˌbɛl/ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > cause physical symptoms [verb (transitive)] > frighten away
feezec890
shuncha1225
aschewelea1250
fearc1420
scarec1450
affray1487
fray1526
fright1599
lowbell1642
shy1845
1642 Broken Title Episcop. Inher. §2 A muster of a few Exoticke obsolete Saxon termes to Low-bell his Ignorant Examiner.
1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness To Rdr. ¶26. p. xxiii Weak Christians..are so low-belled by this terror as to be taken up and captivated by the Church of Rome.
1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness 24 [They] do not low-bell men into their own errour by either uncharitable censurings or bloudy persecutions.
1711 Way to bring World to Rights 25 The ignorant People..are worded out of their Senses, and perfectly Low-bell'd into Perdition.
2. transitive. English regional (midlands). To condemn and humiliate (a person) publicly by causing a disturbance outside his or her house by beating pots and kettles, singing and chanting loudly, etc.; to subject to rough music. In early use also intransitive: to make a noise or disturbance in this way. Cf. ran-tan v. 2. Now rare. E. Smith states in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1902) (with reference to Warwickshire and Worcestershire): ‘This punishment is rarely resorted to except in cases of infidelity. Within the last two or three years I have known of its being twice inflicted.’
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > ridicule or mockery by specific means > ridicule or mock by specific means [verb (transitive)] > ridicule by beating pots and pans
tinkle1562
shivaree1805
lowbell1845
rough music1847
ran-tan1866
tin-kettle1881
tin pan1882
1845 Northampton Mercury 27 Dec. The complainant said, for three nights, large mobs were ‘lowbelling’... She told them not to interrupt the house, but they continued to make a noise at the door, and called out Wesley [i.e. her husband].
1851 T. Sternberg Dial. & Folk-lore Northants. 65 When a peasant of South Northamptonshire has committed any glaring breach of good morals, it is customary for his neighbours to ‘lowbell’ him.
1883 Standard 2 Aug. 6/4 The inhabitants became indignant, and they went through the operation of what is called in that country [sc. Warwickshire] ‘loobelling’ Murell, which meant they assailed him with pots and pans, and smashed all his windows.
a1912 H. Mundy in L. Hughes Young Austral. Pioneer: Henry Mundy (2003) 43 One thing I do very well remember, he was lowbelled (tin-kettled) for beating his wife. This was a custom in those days by neighbours to show disapprobation and contempt for any such offender's conduct.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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