idelhed

Middle English

Etymology

From ydel ‎ -hede.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈiːdəlheːd/

Noun

idelhed (uncountable)

1. (hapax) idleness, inactivity

Usage notes

The pronunciation with /eː/ is guaranteed by a rhyme with leod; this probably represents a dialectal pronunciation of the suffix -hede that existed besides the more usual pronunciation in /ɛː/.

Descendants

• >? English: idlehead (obsolete)
  • ⇒? English: idlehood
    • → Scots: ydelheid (calque)

References

• “īdelhẹ̄d, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.