Obs. 4–5; also 4–5 ayel(e, ayell(e, (eile), 5 aiell(e, ayle, ayeull, 6 ayal, 9 ael. [a. OFr. aïel, ael, aïeul, aïol (Pr. aviol):—late L. *aviolus, dim. of avus grandfather.] A grandfather, forefather.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 317. To ȝiue fram ȝowre eyres · þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1619. I am thyn Aiel eile, ayell) redy at thy wille.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 97. The same heresi of Crist in whech his fader and his ayle was infecte.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VI. (1520), 75 b/1. Richarde duke of Normandye, that was ayeull to Duke Wyllyam.
1502. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 18. In time of Kynge Herry ayal unto Kynge Herry our Ayal.
b. Law. Writ of Aile, Ayle, Ayel, Ael.
1625. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 267. A writ of Ayell after the death of his grandfather or grandmother.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 186. A writ of ayle, or de avo.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., Aile … A writ which lies where a man’s grandfather being seised of lands and tenements in fee simple the day that he died, and a stranger abateth or entereth the same day, and dispossesses the heir of his inheritance.
1865. Nichols, Britton, II. 59. Writs of Cosinage of Ael.
