Dear John (and all),
I copy below the list of examples from OED, sell n. 1:
2. A saddle.
c1425 Thomas Erceld. 49 Hir selle it was of roelle bone. 1590 SPENSER
F.Q. II. viii. 31 Yet was the force so furious and so fell, That horse
and man it made to reele aside; Nath'lesse the Prince would not
forsake his sell. 1600 FAIRFAX Tasso VI. xxxii, Downe from his steed
the Christian backward fell; Yet his proud foe so strong and sturdie
was That he nor shooke, nor staggered in his cell. 1803 SCOTT Cadyow
Castle xxx, From gory selle, and reeling steed, Sprung the fierce
horseman with a bound. 1855 BAILEY Mystic 140 Then to horse; the
gallant knighthood lift their ladies to the sells. 1886 R. F. BURTON
Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.) I. 175 He bade one of his pages saddle him his
Nubian mare-mule with her padded selle.
Hope this is useful.
Andrew
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Andrew Frayn
Lecturer in English Literature
Erasmus Co-ordinator
English and American Studies
School of Arts, Histories, and Cultures
Samuel Alexander Building
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
MANCHESTER
M13 9PL
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Quoting Yan <[log in to unmask]>:
> Dear John,
>
> "Selle" is plural for Italian noun "sella" (a saddle)
> (however I couldn't cope with "swim for it" in the context...).
>
> Perplexedly,
>
> Yan
>
> JR> We are currently annotating "An Almanac of Twelve Sports",
> JR> verses by Kipling, illustrations by Nicholson.
>
> JR> The first two lines of "Hunting" are:
>
> JR> Certes it is a noble sport
> JR> And men have quitted selle and swum for't.
>
> JR> Can anyone suggest a meaning for 'quitted selle'.
>
> JR> All suggestions will be gratefully received.
>
> JR> Good wishes to all, John R
>
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