heapmeal

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English *hepemele, from Old English hēapmǣlum (in heaps, heapmeal), equivalent to heap +‎ -meal.

Adverb

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heapmeal (comparative more heapmeal, superlative most heapmeal)

  1. (rare, largely obsolete) In heaps, or heap by heap; in large quantities or numbers.
    • 1902, Old South Church (Boston, Mass.), Old South leaflets:
      There was then no delay, so that greater hosts came heap-meal from the nations which we mentioned before ; and the folk which came hither began to wax and spread so much that they were a great terror to the same inhabitants of the land [...]
    • 1906, Charles Montagu Doughty, The dawn in Britain:
      Long dures, mongst the forefighters, of both parts, Dread strife, before the wall, for Tola's corse. Almains and Rhaetians, heapmeal, fall thereon, Till the day's end; [...]
    • 1939, Martin Gilkes, Tribute to England: an anthology:
      Men gaze on Caradoc's helm, of lucid steel, Whose crest that dragon of his royal house; And golden belt of strength, and tremble Romans: And the king's glaive, which heapmeal hath slain soldiers.

Usage notes

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Translations

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