adv. and prep. Obs. or dial. Also 4 omelle, 3–5 emell(e. [ad. Norse á milli, á millum, ‘amid,’ for á miðli, miðlum dat. sing. and pl. of miðil or meðal ‘mid, middle’; or perh. of a later form *á meðli from meðal, corresponding to OSw. i mælli, Dan. imellum, the direct cognate of which is the kindred IMELLE.]
A. adv. In the middle; between; in the interval.
a. 1400. Leg. Rood (1871), 90. Two hundreth ȝeres war omell, Betwix þe tymes þat I of tell.
B. prep. Amid, among, betwixt.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23931. Þi eme leuedi vs light emell.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. 55. A manner of men That make great mastres us emelle. Ibid., 56. Ther shuld a man walk us amelle.
1674. Ray, N. Countr. Words, 2. Amell, among, betwixt, contracted from a midle; some pronounce it ameld.
1686. G. Stuart, Joco-Ser. Disc., 59. Amell them twa was sik a league.
1863. Atkinson, Whitby Gloss., Amell, between, in the middle. ‘They came amell seven and eight o’clock.’
Comb. amell-doors, dial. ‘doors between the outer door and that of an inner room.’ Atkinson, Gloss.
