▪ I. parclose, perclose, n.
(ˈpɑːkləʊz, ˈpɜːkləʊz)
Forms: α. 4–6 parclos, (5 -cloos, -klos); 5 perclos, -cloos; β. 4–7, 9 parclose, (6 -closse, 7 -cloese, 9 para-); 5–8 perclose, (6 -clowse).
[ME. parclos, parclose, a. OF. parclos m., parclose fem., pa. pple. of parclore (see next) used subst.]
† 1. Close, conclusion (esp. of a sentence, discourse, or writing). Obs.
| 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 611/75 Now þis schal beo þe parclose, No more to speken of þis prose. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. Epit. (1612) 377 Omitting the particulars of King Harolds answere..the Parcloese was, that by his Sword he would maintaine his Scepter. 1645 Quarles Sol. Recant. vii. 97 Let the Perclose of her thoughts be this, To study what Man was, and what Man is. 1671 F. Phillips Reg. Necess. 174 The perclose of that Law. |
2. A partition, screen, or railing, serving to enclose or shut off a space in a building; esp. (now only) a screen or railing in a church enclosing an altar, a tomb, etc., or separating a chapel, etc. from the main body of the church.
| c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 11281 Thei made afftir a parclos That al a-boute that fair werk gos. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 4231 By-twix hem nas þer but a parclose Of borde. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 382/2 Parcloos, pargulum. 1504 Nottingham Rec. III. 314 For makyng of a parclose in the Shomaker Both. 1513 in Madox Formul. Anglic. 440 My body to be beryed..before the rode within the new perclowse. 1530 Palsgr. 251/2 Parclos to parte two roumes, separation. 1611 Florio, Vacerra, a raile or perclose of timber wherein something is closed. 1867 Ellacombe in Trans. Exeter Dioc. Archit. Soc. Ser. ii. I. 105 The nave is separated from the tower by a parclose of three bays. |
† 3. An enclosed space, enclosure, cloister, closet; esp. one in a building, separated from the main part by a screen or railing. Obs.
| 1445–6 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 394 Pro..ij fenestris de lez parcloses Regis et Regine. 1516 Ibid. II. 244 A doore into the perclose there. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccvi. 460 The other Englysshemen were on the felde, and the Constable styll in his perclose. 1571 in Nicolson & Burn Cumberland (1777) 90 A decent perclose of wood, wherein morning and evening prayer shall be read. |
4. Her. (perclose). See quot.
| 1780 Edmondson Heraldry II. Gloss., Per close, or Demigarter, is that part of the garter that is buckled and nowed. |
[Parclose = ‘limber-hole’, in Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., is an error, founded on F. parcloses limber-boards: see Littré.]
▪ II. parˈclose, perˈclose, v.
[ad. OF. parclore, pa. pple. parclos, -close, f. par-, L. per- through, thoroughly, quite + clore:—L. claudĕre to close.]
† 1. To bring to a close, close, conclude. Obs.
| 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xxi. (1660) 230, I purpose..so to perclose this Treatise. 1626 Boyle in Lismore Papers (1886) II. 187 Raphe Curteis..this day perclosed all accompts with me for the same. 1667 Ormonde MSS. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 52 Orders to satisfy..your petitioner the remaining {pstlg}120, after perclosing their worke. |
2. trans. To enclose; to fence in or shut off with a parclose (see prec. 2). rare.
| 1577 Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. in Holinshed Chron. (1807–8) VI. 30 The towne was not perclosed either with ditch or wall. 1855 Ecclesiologist XVI. 113 The sanctuary is parclosed, the organ standing on its north side. |