Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 chibolle, (chyball), 4–7 chibole, (5 chebolle, 5–6 chybolle), 6 chiboll, (chibal, chibboll, chebol(e, cheboule), 6–7 chibol, (7 chibbal), 7–8 chibbol, (8 chiboul, 9 dial. jibbole, chipple). See also CIBOULE, SYBOW. [a. *chiboule, a northern Fr. form = central F. ciboule, in same sense, cognate with Sp. cebolla, Pg. cebola, It. cipolla onion:—L. cē-, cæpulla onion-bed, f. cēpa, cæpa onion.]
1. A species of Allium (A. fistulosum), known also as Stone Leek, Rock Onion, and Welsh Onion, in appearance intermediate between the onion and the leek. Now little cultivated in Britain.
(This application of the name has been certain since the 16th c.; in earlier times, as now in popular use, other species or forms of Allium may have been included.)
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 281. Chibolles [v.r. -is, chibols, chybolys] cheruelys, and ripe chiries monye. Ibid. (1393), C. IX. 311. Ac ich haue porett-plontes, perselye and scalones, Chiboles and chiruylles.
a. 1400. Pistel of Susan, 105. Þe chyue and þe chollet, þe chibolle þe cheue.
a. 1440. Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 427. Take … grene Chebolles, and hew hom small.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, xv. 12 b. They muste eat no salades, garlyke, ramsons, onyons, chybolles, or Scalyons.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 203. The roote [of Dog’s-tooth] is long and slender lyke to a Chebol.
1585. Parsons, Chr. Exerc., II. i. 168. God sent not the pleasaunt Manna … as long as theyr flower and chibals of Egypt lasted.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIX. vi. As for the Chibbol, it hath in maner no distinct head at all, but only a long neck, & therfore it runs in maner all to a green blade; the order is to cut and sheare it often in manner of porret or leeks.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farm, 158. Quarter out a bed for Leekes and Cyves, and … two other for Onions and Chiboles.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, vii. (1650), 139. Scallions and Chibols are much of the nature of Onions.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Appetite, Roasted Victuals season’d with Garlick, or Onions and Chibouls, Leeks.
[1778. See CIBOULE.]
2. A young or spring onion with the green stalk attached (in which stage it is much like a chibol proper). Chiefly dial.
1848. Barnes, Poems Dorset Dialect Gloss., Gibbole, a young onion. [In a letter the author says, Here [S. Dorset] it is chipple. In the vale of Blackmore I certainly heard it as a boy in the form jibbole.]
1888. Elworthy, W. Som. Gloss., Chibbole, a young onion with the green stalk attached; a favourite addition to salad.
