SC - looking for origin of the word "peel"

[Jessica Tiffin]

Stefan quoted, and then said: 
> >But my question is this--what is the derivation 
> >of the term "peel"?
> By this he means the wooden paddle used to move
> food into and out of medieval ovens.

The OED give about 6 different meanings, about half of them relating 
to a wooden palisade, stockade or tower.  I suspect the relevant 
definition is this one:

^2 1. A stake. 
[The usual sense in OF.] Obs. rare. 
1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2120 He Sede and clambe vpp on a pele
[v.rr. pel, peyl; rime eche dele; F. encuntre vn pel se addresce], And
hyng _eron by _e hond.
 Ibid. 2166 _ou art a-cursed, _ou woste weyl,
And hange were wur_y on a peyl.
 c1330 - Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4611 Longe pyles [MS. Petyt peeles; Wace 
peus ferres] & grete dide _ey make; Faste yn Temese dide _ey hem 
stake, Euerylkon wy_ iren schod. 
Ibid. 4637 Iren-schod was ilka peel [rime ilka del]. 

The conceptual jump from a wooden stake to a wooden paddle doesn't 
seem too huge, no??  Same root as "pell", incidentally, as in the 
wooden stake fighters use to practice sword-blows on...

JdH


Lady Jehanne de Huguenin  *  Seneschal, Shire of Adamastor, Cape Town
(Jessica Tiffin, University of Cape Town)
Sable, three owls rising argent, each maintaining a willow slip vert.
http://users.iafrica.com/m/me/melisant/stidings.htm