Obs. Forms: 3–5 baleis, 4–5 baleys, 5 ballys, baleese, 6 balys. [a. OF. baleis, nom. sing. (or acc. pl.) of balei (mod. balai) besom, broom. As early OF. had sing. nom. baleis, while later OF. had sing. balei, pl. baleis, it is difficult to say from which of these the final -s in Eng. was derived. The quasi-collective sense of ‘birch’ points to the pl.] A rod; also a bundle of twigs used in flogging, a ‘birch,’ a scourge.
a. 1259. Matt. Paris, Chron. (1880), V. 324. Ferens in manu virgam quam vulgariter baleis appellamus.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 47. Ine the temple, sweete Ihesus … makede a baleys, And bet out … Tho that bouȝte and sealde.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 12. With þise bitter baleyses God beteth his dere childeren.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 537. Ȝerde, baleys, virga.
1475. Bk. Noblesse (1860), 54. To be betyn nakid withe baleese and sharpe roddis.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 735. Thys hard balys on þi bottokkys xall byte!
1517. Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 3. He had a balys in hys hond.
