tikilnesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

  • tikelnesse, tikulnesse

Etymology

From tikel +‎ -nesse. Compare English tickle (“changeable, capricious; insecure”).

Noun

tikilnesse

  1. (nonce word) unsteadiness
    • a. 1401, Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “Gode Counsaile”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:
      Flie fro the prese, and dwell with sothfastnesse; / Suffice unto thy Gode, though it be small, / For horde hath hate, and climbyng tikilnesse […]
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

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