spigurnel

English

Etymology

From Saxon spicurran, to shut up or enclose.(Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɪˈɡɜː(ɹ)nəl/

Noun

spigurnel (plural spigurnels)

1. (UK, law, obsolete) The sealer of writs in chancery.
   • 1904, John Greene Henderson, Chancery Practice, page 103:

     On the 4th of October, being Sunday, the Bishop of Ely, chancellor, producing the new seal, declares the king's pleasure, that it should be from thenceforth used; the Monday after the old seal is broke, præcipiente rege and the pieces delivered to the Spigurnel.

   • 1926, Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte, Historical Notes on the Use of the Great Seal of England:

     Several Spigurnels of the thirteenth century are, moreover, described indifferently as Serjeants of the King's Chapel and Serjeants of his Chancery

   • 1980, David Michael Smith, Nicholas Vincent, B. R. Kemp, English Episcopal Acta: Winchester, 1205-1238, page xlvii:

     However there is one item of expenditure which may have a direct link to the chancery; the purchase of wax. In 1224-5, for example, we find the bishop's bailiffs at Southwark buying ten pounds of wax 'for the spigurnel by the bishop's order'.

   • 1999, Medieval Prosopography - Volume 20, page 203:

     Henry IV provided royal confirmations to several minor Chancery officials , including the spigurnel of Chancery, along with letters patent confirming the office of “chaufeire” within Chancery.

Derived terms

• Spickernell (surname)

References

• “spigurnel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• repulsing

Middle English

Alternative forms

• spigernell, sprigonell, spygernel, spykernell, spygornoll, spygurnell

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman spigurnel, spigurnelle, and Anglo-Latin spigurnella, further etymology unknown.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈspiɡurnɛl/

Noun

spigurnel (uncountable)

1. An unknown broomlike flowering plant with medicinal uses (possibly spignel).

Descendants

• >? English: spignel