α.
eOE (Mercian) (1965) vii. 16 (17) In uertice eius iniquitas eius ascendit : in hnolle his unrehtwisnis his astigeð.
OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxx. 264 Se deofol..sloh iob mid þære wyrstan wunde fram his hnolle ufewerdan, oð his ilas neoðewerde.
lOE cxxviii. 4 Dominus iustus concidet ceruices peccatorum : rihtwis forhæwð hnollas synuulra.
c1225 ( Ælfric Gloss. (Worcester) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 536 Uertex, nol.
a1350 in R. H. Robbins (1959) 26 (MED) Nys no wyt in is nolle.
a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xxviii. 35 Mowe þou not be heled fro þe sole of þe foot vnto þy nolle [a1425 L.V. top; L. verticem].
c1425 (?a1400) (Longleat 55) 211 (MED) Þu art wood on þe Nolle!
a1475 (a1450) (Harl.) (1930) 60 (MED) Þay set on þer nollys, For to kepe þer pollys, Gode blake bollys.
a1529 J. Skelton (?1545) sig. D.vi That no man shulde se Nor rede in any scrolles Of theyr dronken nolles.
1563 W. Baldwin et al. (new ed.) Wudvile sig. M.iiii The bastard law broode, which can mollyfie All kynd of causes in theyr crafty nolles.
1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. vi. 170/2 in (new ed.) I He carrie off a drie dronken noll to bed with him.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xxxiii. xlviii. 851 When..they awoke and roused themselues, with their drunken and drousie nols.
1626 N. Breton Fantasticks in (1879) II. 14/2 The nappy Ale makes many a drunken Noll.
1888 F. T. Elworthy at Noddle Jim, hon did thy noll zee the bursh last?