† myneyeplen.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: many adj., a adj., ply n.
Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < many adj. + a adj. + ply n. Compare manyplies n.The pairing of the word with mail n.3 suggests that it describes the multilayered soft fabric armour (compare acton n., gambeson n.) worn under a coat of mail. T. Percy in his edition of the text cited in quot. c1560 (see Reliques (1765) I. 338) glosses myne-ye-ple as ‘perhaps Many-plies, or, folds’. R. Lambe in his edition (see Exact Hist. Battle of Floddon (1774) 70) notes ‘Monyple, a N.C. word’, and glosses ‘they struck down straight many sterne,..through rich coat of mail, and many folds’. However, the form of the word in both the manuscript and quot. c1560 suggests an additional word or particle between many and ply . W. W. Skeat in his edition of the text cited in quot. c1560 (see Spec. Eng. Lit. (ed. 4, 1887) 516/2)) suggests as an alternative etymology a derivation < Middle French manuple (1482), manople (1576) gauntlet (spec. sense of maniple : see maniple n.; compare Italian manopolo vambrace (a1563)).
Obsolete.
c1560 Hunting Cheviot in F. J. Child (1889) III. vi. 308 Thorowe ryche male and myneyeple [MS Ashm. 48 myne ye ple], Many sterne the strocke done streght.
c1650 (a1500) (Percy) (1933) 278 Through rich many & myny plee the red blood blemished both their blee.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online September 2021).