"metal" meaning in Middle English

See metal in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /mɛˈtal/, /ˈmɛtal/, /ˈmɛtəl/
Etymology: Borrowed from Old French metal, from Latin metallum, from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon). Etymology templates: {{etymon|enm|:bor|fro:metal}} [Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Ancient Greek", "term" : "μέτᾰλλον", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "grc" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "metallum", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "metal", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "fro" } ], "keyword" : "bor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "metal", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" }" data-lang="enm" data-title="metal">, {{bor+|enm|fro|metal}} Borrowed from Old French metal, {{der|enm|la|metallum}} Latin metallum, {{der|enm|grc|μέταλλον}} Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon) Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=|var=}} metal, {{enm-noun|metalles}} metal (plural metalles) Forms: metalles [plural], matall [alternative], mataylle [alternative], metail [alternative], metaille [alternative], metall [alternative], metalle [alternative], metel [alternative], metell [alternative], metelle [alternative], mettall [alternative], mettel [alternative]
  1. metal (class of elements)
    Sense id: en-metal-enm-noun-lIYjVhxz Categories (other): Metals Disambiguation of Metals: 11 28 34 26
  2. metalwork (metal item)
    Sense id: en-metal-enm-noun-rm4VI8fk Categories (other): Middle English entries with etymon, Metals Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 7 26 36 31 Disambiguation of Metals: 11 28 34 26
  3. (mining) metal, ore
    Sense id: en-metal-enm-noun-L986Bxg~ Categories (other): Mining, Middle English entries with etymon, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Metals Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 7 26 36 31 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 4 16 44 35 Disambiguation of Metals: 11 28 34 26 Topics: business, mining
  4. (heraldry, rare) metal (class of tinctures) Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-metal-enm-noun-eUCQJUaT Categories (other): Heraldry, Middle English entries with etymon, Metals Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 7 26 36 31 Disambiguation of Metals: 11 28 34 26 Topics: government, heraldry, hobbies, lifestyle, monarchy, nobility, politics

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "metal"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "mettle"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "metal"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "lang_code": "cy",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "metel"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:metal"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"μέτᾰλλον\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"metallum\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"metal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"metal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"metal\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "metal"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Old French metal",
      "name": "bor+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "metallum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin metallum",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "grc",
        "3": "μέταλλον"
      },
      "expansion": "Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Old French metal, from Latin metallum, from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "metalles",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "matall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mataylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metail",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metaille",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metalle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metel",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metell",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metelle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mettall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mettel",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "metal",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "metalles"
      },
      "expansion": "metal (plural metalles)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 28 34 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Metals",
          "orig": "enm:Metals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metal (class of elements)"
      ],
      "id": "en-metal-enm-noun-lIYjVhxz",
      "links": [
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 26 36 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 28 34 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Metals",
          "orig": "enm:Metals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metalwork (metal item)"
      ],
      "id": "en-metal-enm-noun-rm4VI8fk",
      "links": [
        [
          "metalwork",
          "metalwork"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ],
        [
          "item",
          "item#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Mining",
          "orig": "enm:Mining",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 26 36 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 16 44 35",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 28 34 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Metals",
          "orig": "enm:Metals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metal, ore"
      ],
      "id": "en-metal-enm-noun-L986Bxg~",
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ],
        [
          "ore",
          "ore"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining) metal, ore"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Heraldry",
          "orig": "enm:Heraldry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 26 36 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 28 34 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Metals",
          "orig": "enm:Metals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metal (class of tinctures)"
      ],
      "id": "en-metal-enm-noun-eUCQJUaT",
      "links": [
        [
          "heraldry",
          "heraldry"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(heraldry, rare) metal (class of tinctures)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "heraldry",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "monarchy",
        "nobility",
        "politics"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/mɛˈtal/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈmɛtal/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈmɛtəl/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "metal"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with etymon",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Ancient Greek",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 27 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "enm:Metals"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "metal"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "mettle"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "metal"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "lang_code": "cy",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "metel"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:metal"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"μέτᾰλλον\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"metallum\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"metal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"metal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"metal\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "metal"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Old French metal",
      "name": "bor+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "metallum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin metallum",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "grc",
        "3": "μέταλλον"
      },
      "expansion": "Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Old French metal, from Latin metallum, from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "metalles",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "matall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mataylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metail",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metaille",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metalle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metel",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metell",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "metelle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mettall",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "mettel",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "metal",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "metalles"
      },
      "expansion": "metal (plural metalles)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "metal (class of elements)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "metalwork (metal item)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "metalwork",
          "metalwork"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ],
        [
          "item",
          "item#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "enm:Mining"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metal, ore"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mining",
          "mining#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ],
        [
          "ore",
          "ore"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mining) metal, ore"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "business",
        "mining"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses",
        "enm:Heraldry"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "metal (class of tinctures)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "heraldry",
          "heraldry"
        ],
        [
          "metal",
          "metal#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(heraldry, rare) metal (class of tinctures)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "heraldry",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "monarchy",
        "nobility",
        "politics"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/mɛˈtal/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈmɛtal/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈmɛtəl/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "metal"
}

Download raw JSONL data for metal meaning in Middle English (3.8kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (ccec6f1 and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.