Ash-ˈWednesday
[f. ash n.2 + Wednesday.]
The first day of Lent; so called from the custom in the Roman Catholic Church of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents on that day.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 542 An Ax wednesdai..To Gloucetre he wende. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls Ser.) VI. 429 In an Aschewednesday. 1539 Bk. Cerem. in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. App. cix. 291 The giving of ashes upon Ashwednesday, with these words, ‘Remember, man, that thou art ashes and to ashes thou shalt return.’ 1834 Penny Cycl. II. 454/2 Pope Gregory the Great introduced the sprinkling of ashes..which gave it the name of Ash-Wednesday. |