does anyone know what this word means?

[TheArmadillo]

Commonsals

From early modern (1675) document.
Sentance: "There are two Tabels, higher and lower commonsals"

Talking about setting up a 'colledge of Maids'

I think its something to do with either age or more likely status (in context of rest).

Tried googling, dictionaries, article searches, wikipedia, and cannot come up with any answers.

Have tried translating it, but again no luck.

It may be a corruption of a French word? But I can't speak french.

This is my last hope - please does anyone know?

TIA

aaaaarrrrrrghhhh

'Tables', not 'Tabels'

all other spelling mistakes are his not mine (honest)

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try babel fish - transalation service online -

commonsals is a corruptions of 'commensals' from Latin com (with) + mensa (table)

ie tablemates, people you eat with

now has a specific meaning in biology but in your context just means tablemates

presume it means there are two tables (or perhaps two sittings for dinner), one for older and one for younger girls.

in Spanish 'comensal' is a person eating in a restuarant/at a table. Sounds like your interpretaion could be the right one:
"I think its something to do with either age or more likely status (in context of rest). "

Commensal - possibly related?

thank you very much.

MN the font of all knowledge

Mrs Badger definately deserves awe

is it an early word for commensal?

the only thing i can make up in call my bluff stylee is

sitting above or below the salt indicates rank

so a common sel or salt would be someone of a lowly rank

sorry distracted and by the time had typed already answered!!!

thanks

interesting.

I think it probably has something to do with status as the ones on the top get a better quality of maid service.