† Christenmas Obs. exc. dial.
For forms see christen a.
[App. an assimilation of the proper cristes-mass, criste-mas, to christen, owing perh. to the shortening of the i, which separated it in sound from Christ.]
= Christmas. (The ordinary form in northern dial.)
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 502 After crysten-masse com þe crabbed lentoun. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 50 The thirde daye after crystynmas daye. 1529 Rastell Pastyme (1811) 40 At Crystenmas. 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. E vj, In Christenmas vpon Saint Thomas day. 1855 Whitby Gloss., Kessenmas. 1879 Jamieson, Christenmass. |