Definition of "alce"
alce1
noun
plural alces
Quotations
Alces, brought for the nonce out of the great wooddes of Germany.
1541, Elyot, Image Gov., published 1556, page 81; quoted in “† Alce”, in James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, 1884–1928, page 208, column 3
His creaſt, the beaſt Alce pꝛoper, leaning to an Oke Vert, ſet on a toꝛce de Oꝛ and Gules, mantled Sable, doubled Oꝛ, ſuppoꝛted with a Beuer argent, coloured and vnguled Sable, and an Harpie Vert, Wynged de Oꝛ. The Alce diſcribed foꝛ the creaſt of the ſaid coate Armour, is a wilde Beaſte in the woods of Germany, in faſhion and ſkinne like to a fallowe Déere, but greater, and hath no iointes in his legges: and therefoꝛe he doth neuer lye, but leans to a trée when he doth reſt him.
1572, Iohn Bossewell, Workes of Armorie Deuided into Three Bookes, Entituled, the Concordes of Armorie, the Armorie of Honor, and of Cotes and Creastes, […], London: […] Henrie Ballard, […], published 1597, folios 111, verso – 112, recto
CAP. XXXI. of Germanie, and the wonderfull byrdes therein, and of the Bugles, Vres, and Alces. wylde Beaſtes. […] There is alſo a beaſt called Alce much reſembling a Mule, with ſuch a long vpper lippe, that he cannot féede but he muſt goe backward. […] OVer againſt Germanie is the Ilande Scandinauia, which bꝛéedeth a beaſt ∗ much reſembling an Alce, which like yͤ Oliphant boweth not the nether ioyntes of his legs, and therefoꝛe lyeth not downe when he ſléepeth, but reſteth himſelfe when he is dꝛowſie, againſt a Trée, the which is ſawne almoſt a ſunder, ready to fall, that when the beaſt leaneth to his accuſtomed ſtaie, he may fall downe: and ſo is hee caught, foꝛ otherwiſe it is a hard matter to catch hym by hand.∗ Munſter taketh this beaſt to be the Alce
1587, Caius Julius Solinus, translated by Arthur Golding, The Excellent and Pleasant Worke: Collectanea Rerum Memorabilium […], Gainesville, Fla.: Scholars’ Facsimiles & Reprints, published 1955
Moreover, a certaine beaſt, called the Alce, very like to an horſe, but that his eares are longer; and his necke likewiſe with two markes, diſtinguiſh them aſunder. Moreover, in the Iſland Scandinavia, there is a beaſt called Machlis, not much unlike to the Alce abovenamed: common he is there, and much talk we have heard of him, howbeit in theſe parts hee was never ſeene. Hee reſembleth, I ſay, the Alce, but that hee hath neither joint in the hough, nor paſternes in his hind-legs: and therefore hee never lieth downe, but ſleepeth leaning to a tree.
1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VIII.] Of Scythian beasts, and those that are bred in the North parts.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, page 200
Maclis, Plin. A beaſt in Scandinavia like to Alce, very ſwift, leaning to a tree when it ſleepeth, and beeing once fallen, cannot lift it ſelfe vp againe.
1610, Thomae Thomasii Dictionarium Summa Fide ac Diligentia Accuratissime Emendatum, Magnaque Insuper Rerum Scitu Dignarum, et Vocabvlorum Accessione, Longè Auctiùs Locupletiúsque Redditum, 8th edition, Cambridge, Cambs: Ex Officina Iohannis Legati, […]
The alces hide cannot be pierced with cutting.
1617, Horn & Rob., Gate Lang. Unl., § 193, page xvii; quoted in “† Alce”, in James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, 1884–1928, page 208, column 3
If you will ſee the Crocodyle, you muſt goe into Egypt; if the Oſtrich, into Barbary or Ethiopia; if the Rhinoceros, you muſt goe into India; if the Alce, vnto Polonia, &c.
a. 1625, Miles Smith, Sermons of the Right Reuerend Father in God Miles Smith, Late Lord Bishop of Glocester. Transcribed out of His Originall Manuscripts, and Now Published for the Common Good., London: […] Elizabeth Allde for Robert Allot, […], published 1632, pages 255–256
The hoof in the Falling ſickneſs is accounted nothing inferiour to the Alce’s. […] Of the brain of an Alce in like manner may an excellent Antepileptick be prepared.
1659, John Schroder, translated by T. Bateson, Ζωολογια [Zoologia]: or, The History of Animals as They Are Useful in Physick and Chirurgery. […], London: […] E. Cotes, for R. Royston […] and Rob. Clavel […], pages 5 and 61
Alce, a wild beaſt, in faſhion and ſkin like a fallow Deer, but greater, and hath no joynts in his legs, and therefore doth never ly down but lean to trees; the horn of it is uſeful in Phyſick.
1671, Edward Phillips, compiler, The Nevv World of Words: Or a General English Dictionary, 3rd edition, London: […] Nath. Brook, […]
But to come to their wild Beaſts; among thoſe the Alce or Elk, leads the Van in this Country, tho’ among the Laplanders the Bear is ſtyl’d the Lord of the Forreſt, and of all the other wild Beaſts.
a. 1714, J[odocus] C[rull], A Supplement to Mr. Samuel Puffendorf’s Introduction to the History of Europe: […], 2nd edition, London: […] Aaron Ward, […], published 1726, page 551
The Alce, or Elk, is an animal ſo differently deſcribed by the antients, that it is evident they either knew very little of it, or elſe different writers have deſcribed different animals under this name.
1753, A Supplement to Mr. Chambers’s Cyclopædia: or, Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. […], volume I, London: […] W. Innys and J. Richardson, […]
alce2
noun
plural alces
(rare) A mythical beast resembling a griffin with no wings, often classified as a male griffin.
Quotations
XV. CHARGES taken from MONSTERS. Monsters with Wings. Griffin. Dragon. Alce. Opinicus. […] Alce. See Griffin. […] The term Alce is given, as if used by writers for a kind of griffin, but no example can be quoted.]
[1894, Henry Gough, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, new edition, Oxford, Oxon, London: James Parker and Co., pages xvii, 9, and 294
[…] griffin seems to have an existence in theory only; nevertheless he must be catalogued, together with the word alce, which is accepted (though not without dissent) as the individual name for the horned griffin.]
[1963, Julian Franklyn, Shield and Crest: An Account of the Art and Science of Heraldry, 2nd edition, MacGibbon & Kee, page 149
"It has no wings! I thought that griffins were lions with an eagle head and wings." / "I'm sure that this female Alce doesn't prefer to be called 'it,'" Ryu said pointedly. / "Alce?" / "Yes. A so-called wingless griffin. But they are two different creatures."
2009, Nicole Zoltack, Woman of Honor (The Kingdom of Arnhem; 1), Newhall, Calif.: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
figure 11 Cloven-hoofed, wingless griffin (also called an alce or a keythong in later heraldry) symbolizing the sun, and two-legged dragon (wyvern) symbolizing the moon.]
[2011, Marc Michael Epstein, The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination, New Haven, Conn., London: Yale University Press, page 58
Alce / Variations: Anthalops, Alcida, Calopus, Keythong, Panthalops, Tapopus / In heraldic symbology the alce is a wingless, male griffin with rays or spikes of gold protruding from several parts of its body; on occasion it also sports two long straight horns atop its head. A pair of such creatures is present on the coat of arms of the Earl of Ormande.
2016, Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, page 22, column 1
Adventurer’s Tip: Do not confuse [the griffin] with similar hybrids, such as the alce (a wingless griffin) or the alphyn (a lion with eagle claws for front legs).
2019, Blanca Martínez de Rituerto, Joe Sparrow, Dungeons & Drawings: An Illustrated Compendium of Creatures, Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews McMeel Publishing