The Word Hele – Brief Origins

The Word Hele – Brief Origins

Hele
Hile\, v. t. To hide. See Hele. [Obs.] --Chaucer (1a))
"to hide, conceal; to keep secret." (1b)

From ancient German “hehlen”, “to conceal” (2)

This word proves a relation between modern Freemasonry and the ancient German Building Corporations (3)

Earliest known usage non-masonically of hele was in 825 AD (4)

First Masonic reference to hele was in the Cooke Manuscript in the early fifteenth century: “That he can hele the counsel of his fellows in lodge and in chambr and in every place where masons be.” (5)

Don't forget in the dark ages Britain was overrun by the Saxons - a tribe from Saxony which is part of what is now Germany. Old English is derived from old German/Saxon and the Welsh form of Gaelic. Example: the plural of brother in old English is brethren which is similar to how many German nouns are pluralized rather than adding an "s" as in modern English. (6)

Refs:
1a – Websters Dictionary
1b – Oxford English Dictionary
2 – A Dictionary of Freemasonry – R. Macoy
3 – A Dictionary of Freemasonry – R. Macoy
4 – Oxford English Dictionary
5 – Freemasons' Guide and Compendium – B. E. Jones
6 - Info contributed by Bro T Lewis (email May 7.08)