| 释义 | † polen waxn.Origin: Apparently formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: an element of uncertain origin, wax n.1Etymology:  <  a first element of uncertain origin + wax n.1It has been suggested (see quot. 1898) that the wax originated in a region east of the river Elbe, whence  N.E.D. (1908) tentatively connected the first element with Middle French pollain  , poulain   Polish, poulin   a Pole (see Polan n.; perhaps compare also post-classical Latin Polonia   Poland: see polony adj. and n.2)). However, there appears to be no evidence in support of this hypothesis. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the first element of the word may represent Middle French pollin  , poulain  , poullain  poleyn n.2, in which case the wax might be so called because is produced by young bees in early summer (compare virgin wax n.   and later maiden-wax n. at maiden n. and adj. Compounds 2). However, Middle French poulain  , etc., although glossed in  F. Godefroy Dict. de l'ancienne langue française (1889) VI. 347/1, s.v. 1. poulain, as ‘petit de tout animal’, is apparently not attested with specific reference to young bees, and almost always denotes young equine animals, so that there seems to be no justification for Godefroy's broad interpretation of the word. Moreover, the precise meaning of polen wax   cannot be deduced from contemporary quotations, and it is debatable whether polen wax   and medewax n., maiden-wax n. at maiden n. and adj. Compounds 2, virgin wax n.   are comparable in their semantic motivation (compare the etymological discussion at medewax n.). It is unclear whether the following quot. should be taken as showing the English or the French word; the meaning of the word in this quot. is also uncertain:1450    in  J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices 		(1882)	 		(modernized text)	 III. 299  				Poleyn. Obsolete. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > waxy materials > 			[noun]		 > other types of wax?c1450    in  G. Müller  		(1929)	 124  				Sette ȝowre oyle ouer a softe fyir, and putte þer-inne ii pownd of fayre schepys-talow..and þanne take poleyne-wax. 1464     (Bundle 41, No. 8)  				C de pulleyn wax et quarter de lussheban wax. 1490–1    in  H. J. F. Swayne  		(1896)	 38  				iiij pound & di. of polen wex for makynge of the Pascalle. 1543						 (     		(1812)	 366  				Wynes swete and mykell poleyn waxe. 1898     27 Aug. 280/2  				In the fifteenth century there was an object in the church called the trendelle, for which six pounds of 'polen wex' was purchased...‘Polen wex’ is believed to have been a product of Livonia and other districts east of the Elbe.]			 This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online December 2021).<  n.?c1450 |