virgin wax
Also virgin-wax; 5–8 virgin's wax.
[tr. med.L. cera virginea: cf. virgin 17 b and 11. So F. cire-vierge.]
Orig., fresh, new, or unused bees-wax, sometimes that produced by the first swarm of bees; in later and more general use, a purified or fine quality of wax, esp. as used in the making of candles; white wax.
| α 13.. K. Alis. 334 (Linc. MS.), After, he tok virgyn wax, And made a popet after þe quene. a 1400 Sqr. lowe Degre 688 She sered that body with specery, With wyrgin waxe and commendry. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 30 Þan putte to a litle oyle of olyue,..wiþ als miche virgine wax togidre dissolued at þe fire by it self. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 510/2 Vyrgyne wex, cera virginea. 1502 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. II. 37 Payit to Robert Bertoune for virgyne wax that he brocht hame to the King. 1538 in W. M. Williams Ann. Founders' Co. (1867) 55 The Herse to be garnyshed with xxx other great Tapers with ij Branches of Virgyn waxes. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. 57 An excellent cement for broken glasses. Take one part of Virgin-wax [etc.]. 1626 T. H[awkins] tr. Caussin's Holy Crt. 9 He hath imprinted all his perfections vpon our Sauiour..as one should impresse a golden seale vpon virgin-waxe. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) I. 33 They say, the young King's picture was found in her closet in virgin-wax. a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 310 Like Virgin-Wax, he soft'ned the hard Bone, And wrought it till to female shape 'twas grown. 1795 W. Blake Lett. (1906) 54 Take a cake of virgin wax..and stroke it..over the surface of a warm plate. 1821 Scott Kenilw. vi, Besides lesser lights, the withdrawing-room was illuminated by four tall torches of virgin wax. 1861 Hulme tr. Moquin-Tandon ii. iii. ccix, Wax which has been completely deprived of its colour is called virgin or white wax. |
| fig. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xii. (1912) 229 You use vile Vulcans spight..to melt that Virgin-waxe, Which while it is, it is all Asias light. |
| attrib. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe Wks. (Grosart) V. 256 The most intenerate Virgine wax phisnomy. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. viii. 223 The convoy presently departed, leaving him..with a Virgin-waxe-light, in a golden Candle⁓stick. |
| β 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xix. lxi. 897 The more newe wexe is the more able it is to take inpressyon and pryntynge of dyuers fygures and shapes, and suche wex is callyd vyrgyns wexe. 1535 Wardr. Kath. Arragon 41 in Camden Misc. III, Item, seevyn hoolle tapers of vyrgyn's waxe. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 37 Cerfolie..being wrought & tempered with Virgins Waxe, remedieth all kinde of swelling. 1607 T. Walkington Opt. Glass 39 The purest virgins wax. 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins. 915 Simple and natural Wax is the thicker part of the combs that contains the honey; and it is either virgins wax, or of a second sort; virgins wax is that the younger swarms of Bees make from the young branches of flowers. (That is the first Swarm put into a new Hive.) 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. x. 76 Slender Tapers of white Wax (commonly called Virgins Wax). 1736 Bailey Househ. Dict. s.v. Eye-salve, Take one ounce of May butter, half an ounce of virgins wax [etc.]. |