“Jan. 1544. Item: from Mr. Braye ii. high collar partletts, iiis. ixd.”—“Privy Purse Expenses, Princess Mary.”
Hence partlet, a hen, on account of the ruffled feathers, a term used alike by Chaucer and Shakespeare.
In our nomenclature we have but few traces of it. In France it was very commonly used. But Hughelot or Huelot, from Hugh, was popular, as our Hewletts can testify. Richelot for Richard, Hobelot and Robelot for Robert, Crestolot for Christopher, Cesselot for Cecilia, and Barbelot for Barbara, are found also, and prove that the desinence had made its mark.
Returning, however, to ot and et: Eliot or Elliot, from Ellis (Elias), had a great run. In the north it is sometimes found as Aliot:
“Alyott de Symondeston held half an oxgang of land, xixd.”—“De Lacy Inquisition,” 1311.
The feminine form was Elisot or Elicot, although this was used also for boys. The will of William de Aldeburgh, written in 1319, runs—
“Item: do et lego Elisotæ domicellæ meæ 40s.”—“Test. Ebor.,” i. 151.
The will of Patrick de Barton, administered in the same year, says—
“Item: lego Elisotæ, uxori Ricardi Bustard unam vaccam, et 10s.”—“Test. Ebor.,” i. 155.
“Eliseus Carpenter, cartwyth, et Elesot uxor ejus, vid.”—W. D. S.