‖ kermis
(ˈkɜːmɪs)
Forms: 6 kirkemesse, 7 carmas, kermas, kirmish, 7– kermis, 8 kearmas, 9 kermess(e, kirmess(e.
[a. Du. kermis (earlier ker-, kirmisse:—orig. kerk-, kirkmisse), f. kirk kirk + mis mass: cf. MHG. kirmesse, G. kirmes, kirms (also kirchmesse), OFris. tserkmisse, ON. kirkjumessa (Norw. † kjörmes, -messe); F. kermesse; orig. the mass or service on the anniversary of the dedication of a church, on which also was held a yearly fair or festival. (Cf. St. Giles's Fair in Oxford.)]
In the Low Countries, parts of Germany, etc.: A periodical (properly, annual) fair or carnival, characterized by much noisy merry-making. Also U.S. an imitation of this, usually got up for charitable purposes.
| 1577 Harrison England ii. xviii. (1877) 1. 303 Albeit some of them [fairs] are not much better than the common kirkemesses beyond the sea, yet there are diuerse not inferiour to the greatest marts in Europe. 1611 L. Whitaker in Coryat Crambe b ij a, Dutch Pappigeay and Carmas gay [Margin. A kind of drunken Dutch faire held on Sundaies and holidaies in afternoones in Sommer time]. 1641 Evelyn Diary 28 July, It was now Kermas, or a fair, in this town. 1695 Dryden Parall. Poetry & Paint. Wks. 1821 XVII. 305 The painting of clowns, the representation of a Dutch kermis. 1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) 108 As we came through Harlem, it was Kearmas, which is a great fair, which all the towns in Holland hold once every year. 1818 Blackw. Mag. III. 406 It would..have done the readers good, To see the pair to kerk or kermis going. 1883 G. H. Boughton in Harper's Mag. Apr. 690/1 He arrived during the wildest powwow of the ‘kermesse’ [Holland]. 1888 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 12 Dec. 1/8 Salem Mechanic Light Infantry Kirmess..is destined to prove a brilliant success. |