| 释义 |
† ˈflock-meal, adv. Obs.
Forms: 1 floc(c)-mǽlum, 4 flocmele, flockmel, 5–6 flo(c)kmell, -mele, 6–7 flock(e)meale.
[OE. floccmǽlum, f. flocc flock n.1 + mǽlum, dat. pl. of mǽl measure: cf. piecemeal, stoundemele.]
By companies or troops (of persons), rarely by groups or heaps (of things). In later use sometimes preceded by by or in.
c893K. ælfred Oros. ii. v. §2 Hie þonne hie floccmælum sloᵹan. 1382Wyclif 2 Macc. xiv. 14 Than heithen men that fledden Judas fro Judee, flocmele ioynyden hem to Nychanore. 1482Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 107 Theder came flockemele the multytude of tho blessyd sowlys. 1566Drant Wail. Hierim. K vij b, The stones..Flock meale to corners of eche strete are scatered. 1583Stanyhurst Aeneis iv. (Arb.) 109 In cluster you see thee coompanye swarming On the shoare in flockmeale. 1600Holland Livy ii. xxviii. (1609) 62 All the younger sort of the Senatours, approched by flockmeale, hard almost to the Consuls seats. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xviii. (1632) 903 Some Lords, Knights and Gentlemen..assembled in sundry Companies, and went flocke-meale in harnesse. |