411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Folevyles lawes
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Middle English
enm 2025 December 30
Alternative forms
enm ffolvyles lawes foleviles lawes folevyles lawes folvyles lawes manuscript forms
Etymology
From the surname enm Folevyle (itself from enm fro Folevile, from the village of Folleville, Somme Folleville, Picardy) + enm lawes, plural of enm lawe law, after the Folville gang, perceived as providing more effective justice than official authorities.
Pronunciation
enm /ˌfɔl(ə)ˌviːləs ˈlau̯əs/ /ˌfɔl(ə)vil(ə)s ˈlau̯əs/
Noun
enm noun
enm hapax lynch law, vigilante justice
X 22 98 full He wıſſede men wynne hıt aȝeyn thoꝛw wyͪttneſſe of handes / And fechen hit fro falſe men wt foleuıles lawes. He taught men to get it again through force of arms / and take it from lying men with Folville's laws.
References
en Bowers R. H. September 1961 “Foleuyles Lawes” (“Piers Plowman”) w:Notes and Queries 8 9 327–328 0029-3970 10.1093/nq/8-9-327 7214082570.
enm Law