Christ-cross-row, criss-cross-row arch. and dial.
(ˈkrɪskrɒsrəʊ, -krɔːs)
[f. prec. + row n.]
1. The alphabet; so called from the figure of a cross prefixed to it in horn-books. Also cross-row, q.v. arch. or dial.
| 1563 Foxe A. & M. (1583) 831 Of the same Warde he learned hys Christe-crosse-rowe. 1611 Cotgr., La croix de par Dieu, the Christs-crosse-row; or, the hornebooke wherein a child learnes it. 1631 Celestina xviii. 180, I sweare..by the crisse-crosse row, by the whole Alphabet. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy v. xlii, Four years in travelling from Christ-cross-row to Malachi [the O. Test. being the reading-book of the highest class]. 1814 Wordsw. Excursion viii. 419 Infant-conning of the Christ-cross-row. 1863 Kingsley Water Bab. ii, Twelve or fourteen neat, rosy, chubby little children, learning their Chris-cross-row. |
† 2. fig. The whole series, the catalogue. Obs.
| 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (1884) 73 In the whole crisse-crosse rowe..of moral or intellectual vertues. a 1652 Brome New Acad. iv. ii, In your crisse-crosse-row of complement. |
† b. The first elements or rudiments, the ‘ABC’ of any subject. Obs.
| 1684 Southerne Disappointment iii. i. 31 God sa' me! She is not come to the Criss-cross-row of her profession yet. |