Paul'sn.

Etymology: < the genitive of the name of St Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, Christian leader and theologian (d. c a.d. 64), attested in a number of forms from Old English onwards (also as personal name: see below) < post-classical Latin Paulus , Paullus , family name < paulus , paullus (see paulo-post-future adj. and n.). Some of the main forms of the name in other languages are: Italian Paolo, Spanish Pablo, Portuguese Paulo, German Paul, Danish Poul, Swedish Pål, Påvel, Irish Pól, Welsh Pawl, Breton Pol, Russian Pavel. The Apostle seems to have adopted the name Paulus upon becoming a Roman citizen because it resembled his original name, Saul (Hebrew Šā'ūl, meaning ‘asked (for)’).Forms with Middle English au , aw (see α. forms) reflect Latin Paulus ; forms with ou , ow reflect Old English Pāul (also Pāwl , early Middle English Pawel : compare soul n.); forms with o alone may reflect Old French Pol (object case; Pols , subject case). The evidence for its early modern English pronunciation mostly shows the reflex of Middle English ou ; the modern pronunciation is largely due to the spelling. See further E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §242. The name Paul is attested in English from the Old English period onwards; in Old English usually as the name of the Apostle, sometimes called the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles’ (Acts 13:9), and also as the name of St Paul the Hermit, also occasionally as a personal name (for monks, priests, etc.); it is attested as a baptismal name from the 13th cent., but (despite a certain initial popularity before 1300) it remained comparatively rare until the 20th cent. (as a surname it is first attested in the 12th cent.). Paul is used in conjunction with Peter in proverbial phrases: see Peter n. and int. Phrases. The first cathedral in London was dedicated to St Paul in the year 604. The present building was built between 1675 and 1710. It replaced old St Paul's, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The designation of the cathedral as Paul's Church (without Saint ) is attested from the late 15th cent. until the early 18th cent. Paul's is attested earlier in the following place name:1353 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Wills Court of Husting (1889) I. 682 [He leaves a wharf, commonly called] Pauliswharf [to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's]. It similarly occurs in the names of certain streets, inns, and other places in London in the vicinity of St Paul's Cathedral or owned by the Cathedral authorities (many now lost), e.g.:?1423–4 Guildhall Let.-bk. in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 106 A Taillours house ouer for a-yens Petres Tauerne be Poules cheyne.1444 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Wills Court of Husting (1890) II. 503 [A hostel called] Pouleshede [situate near Poulescheyne].1527 J. Rastell Abridgem. Statutes (Colophon) Enprynted in the chepe syde at the sygne of the mere mayde next to poulys gate.1562 J. Heywood Seekyng for Dwellyng Place in Prov. & Epigrams vi. li Powles cheine. nay in no wise dwell not neere the chaine. With Paul's foot (see sense 1a) compare post-classical Latin pes Pauli (1459 in a British source), Anglo-Norman pee de Seint Poul (1419). The origin of Paul's work (see sense 1c) is unclear; it is perhaps connected with the phrase work of (St) Paul's occurring in some wills (compare quot. 1387 at sense 3), referring to building works at the cathedral; compare also the following:1431 Petition (P.R.O.) 25. 1235 The double leway of payment Wherof a part shuld be applied to the werk of Poules and the tother part to the Chambre of the Gildhalle.