nuncheon Now dial.
(ˈnʌnʃən)
Forms: α. 4 nonechenche, nonschonches, 5 -senches; Sc. 4 noynsankys, 5–6 none-, nunschank(i)s. β. 5 noonchyns, -shyns, nonsiens, 6 nunchings, 6–7 nuncions (7 -chions), -tions. γ. 5 noneshyne, 8–9 noonchin(e; 7, 9 noonshun. δ. 6–7 (9) nonchion; 6 nuntion, 7 -cian; 6– nunchion, 7– nuncheon, 9 dial. nunchen, -chin(g), -chun, -shon.
[ME. nōn(e)shench, f. nōn(e noon + shench (OE. scenc) draught, cup. Until the 17th cent. usually in forms with final s. In mod. western and south-western dialect the shorter form nunch is also current: cf. luncheon and lunch.]
A slight refreshment of liquor, etc., originally taken in the afternoon; a light refreshment taken between meals; a lunch.
| α 1353 in Riley Mem. London 265 Nonechenche. 1375–6 Abingdon Abbey Acc. (1892) 28 Vnde liberantur Conuentui, pro eorum nonschonches,..j panis et j lagena ceruisie. 1394 Reg. Nigrum Aberbrothoc (Bann. Club) 43 That day that he wyrkis he sal haf a penny til his noynsankys. 1422–3 in Gentl. Mag. (1830) C. ii. 592 It'm to ij Carpenters be j day to eche of hem, with her Nonsenches. 1491 St. Giles Charters (1859) p. xx, To haif bot thair noneschanks allanerly after⁓none. 1529 Burgh Rec. Stirling (1887) I. 35 Haiffand ilk werk day ane half hour afor nyne houris afor none to his disjone, and ane othir half hour afor four houris eftyr none to his nunschankis. 1536 in Jervise Mem. Angus & Mearns (1885) I. 298 Na tyme of license of dennar nor noneshankis. |
| β 1422–3 in Gentl. Mag. (1830) C. ii. 592 It'm to on Robert Dawber for his dawbyng be vij dayes,..with his noonchyns. 1426–7 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904) 64, ij carpenters with her nonsiens. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Merenda,..an afternoones nuncions or drinking, a beuer. 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (1842) 57 Then a set breakfast, then dinner, then afternoones nunchings, a supper, and a rere supper. 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. 276 Which being both put together would not make up together a reasonable nunchions. 1649 Wandering Jew in Halliw. Bk. Charac. (1857) 24 In one of these pipes is my mornings draught,..in a third, my after-noons nuntions. |
| γ a 1500 Egerton MS. 2108 lf. 57 b, To vij. other laborers.., every man, iij.d. and for noneshyne, iv.d. 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. i, Harvest-folkes..On sheafes of corne were at their noonshuns close. 1772 Graves Spir. Quix. (1783) III. 14 They took a comfortable noonchine together. 1808 Jane Austen Lett. (1884) I. 353 Immediately after the noonshine which succeeded their arrival a party set off for Buckwell. 1875 Whitby Gloss. s.v., It was n't a dinner, it was only a bit of a noonshun. 1880 C. M. Yonge Love & Life I. 36, I will give you some bread and cheese and gingerbread for noonchin. |
| δ 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Le Gouster,..an afternoones banket, an onchion. a 1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 56 Is there nothing in the sacrament but bread and wine, like an hungry nuncion? 1603 Harsnet Pop. Impost. xxiii. 158 Perverting the Nature of the Holy Communion, to a private Nunchion for a priest alone. 1611 Cotgr., Collation de Moyne, a Monks nuncheon; as much as another man eats at a large meale. 1694 Urquhart's Rabelais iv. xlvi, Some say there is..no Dinner like a Lawyer's, no Afternoon's Nunchion like a Vintner's. 1734 Fielding Old Man taught Wisd. Wks. 1784 III. 126, I don't eat a great deal, unless it be at breakfast..and afternoon's nunchion. 1790 T. Pryce Voc. Cornish, Croust, an afternoon's nuncheon. 1822 Scott Nigel ii, I came to get my four-hours' nunchion from you. 1858 Hughes Scour. White Horse 61 A long table was laid out for luncheon, or nunching as the boots..called it. 1893 Wiltsh. Gloss. App. 198 About Salisbury Nuncheon is between 10 and 10.30 a.m., and again at 4 p.m., and is a very small meal. |