▪ I. chimer1, chimere
(ˈtʃɪmə(r), tʃɪˈmɪə(r))
Forms: 4 chemer, chemeyr, 4, 6 chimmer, 5–7 chymer, 5–8 chymere, 6 chymmer, chymour, shemer, chammer, chamarre, 6–7 chimer, 9 chimar, 7– chimere.
[The same word as OF. chamarre (mod.F. simarre) ‘a loose and light gowne’ (Cotgr.). Diez mentions Sp. chamarra, zamarra, -o, sheepskin, Sard. acciamarra white sheepskin coat, It. zimarra, Pr. samarra, of uncertain origin. In med.(Anglo-)L. chimēra, chimæra, whence perh. the Eng. form, or vice versa.]
A loose upper robe. a. esp. That worn by a bishop, to which the lawn sleeves are attached.
‘Which, before and after the reformation, till Queen Elizabeth's time, was always of scarlet silk; but Bishop Hooper scrupling first at the robe itself, and then at the colour of it, as too light and gay for the episcopal gravity, it was changed for a chimere of black satin’ (Wheatley Common Prayer (1710) ii. §4).
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 580 The gude bischop..A chemeyr [v.r. chemer, chimmer] for till heill his veid, Aboue his armyng had. Ibid. 601 With that he kest of his Chemer. c 1430 Henryson Mor. Fab. 2nd Prol. 30 His chymeris wes of chambelote purpour broun. 1563 Foxe A. & M. 1050 Hys vpper garmente was a long Shemer [ed. 1583 Chymere] downe to the foote, and vnder that a whyte lynnen rochet. Ibid. (1596) 295/2 Their [priests'] chimmers and scappillers which they weare. a 1586 Maitland Poems (1786) 188 (Jam.) Thair hudes, thair chymours, thair garnysings. 1634 Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 273 Their black chimere, or sleeveless coat, put upon the fine white rochet. 1633 Sc. Act Chas. I (1817) V. 21 (Jam.) A chymer..to be worne over thair whytes at the tyme of thair consecratioun. 1679 Oldham Satires on Jesuits (1854) 131 Albs, ammits, rochets, chimers, hoods, and cowls. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xvi. 199 Grindal, the new Bp. of London, preached at St. Paul's Cross, in his rochet and chimere. 1732 Neal Hist. Purit. I. 71 His upper garment was a long scarlet Chymere. 1883 Bp. Fraser in Standard 20 Jan. 3/6 The chimere is properly a kind of cope with apertures for the arms to pass through. |
b. As worn by others: variously explained.
| [1380 Acts New College, Oxford Rubr. 23 Quod Custos, Socii et scholares..capis, chimeris, et tabardis longis et talaribus..superius induantur.] a 1500 Metr. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 629 Est interula, braccæ, camisia, toga, et iupa, [glossed] smokke, brechys, schyrt, gowne, a chymere. 1530 Palsgr. 558/2 Your sworde freateth the plyghtes of your chymer [chammare]. Ibid. 637/1 Put of this chymmer, it mysbecometh you. Ibid. 674/1 Wyll you put on your chamarre to daye? a 1850 Mrs. Browning Poems II. 304 This purple chimar which we wear. |
▪ II. chimer2
(ˈtʃaɪmə(r))
[f. chime v. + -er1.]
One who chimes bells, or plays a set of chimes.
| 1611 Cotgr. Carillonneur, a chymer, or knowler, of bels. 1693 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 331 A chimer, campanorum pulsator ad numeros. 1872 Ellacombe Ch. Bells Devon 262 Every Ringer shall also be a chimer. |