halwe

Middle English

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old English hālga (“holy man, saint”), from Proto-West Germanic *hailagō, from Proto-Germanic *hailagô (“holy person”).

Alternative forms

• halow, halowe
• halege, halȝæ, halȝe (Early Middle English); halhe (AB language)
• halȝen (Kent); halewe, haluwe (Southern); halghe, haligh, halogh, halu (Northern)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhalwə/, /ˈhalɔu̯(ə)/, /ˈhaluː/
• IPA^(key): /ˈhaliu̯(ə)/ (especially Kent, Southern, South Midland)

Noun

halwe (plural halwes or halwen) (especially in the plural)

1. A faithful Christian believer.

   Synonym: seynt

2. A saint (particularly holy or pious person).

   Synonym: seynt

3. The shrine of a saint or other holy place.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 2, recto:

     And Palmeres foꝛ to seeken straunge strondes / To ferne halwes / kouthe ın sondrẏ londes

     And palmers to go seeking out strange shores, / To distant shrines famous in various countries.

4. A relic or other holy object.
5. (rare) One of the Twelve Apostles.

Related terms

• halwen
• halwynge

Descendants

• English: hallow (obsolete)

References

• “halwe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• “hallow, n.¹”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Etymology 2

Verb

halwe

1. alternative form of halwen