ˈShrove-tide
Also 5 schrof-, -ffe-, shorff-, 5–6 shrof(f)-, 6 north. s(c)hraf-, 6–7 shros- (?); 6 shrosty (?), shrovety.
[Of obscure origin.
The first element is undoubtedly related to shrive and refers to the custom of being shriven in preparation for Lent.
An OE. *scráf shriving, confession, f. scr{iacu}fan to shrive, would account phonologically for shrove-, but, if the form actually existed, the absence of evidence for this group of words until the 15th c. is remarkable. (Other early names for the season were Fastens-een, Fast-gong, Fastingong.)]
The period comprising Quinquagesima Sunday and the two following days, ‘Shrove’ Monday and Tuesday.
| c 1425 Orolog. Sapient. vii. in Anglia X. 386/39 Þe sondaye In Quinquagesime, with þe tweyne dayes folowynge, þat is clepyd Schroftyde. c 1512 Regul. Northumbld. Househ. (1770) 377 From Alhallowtid to Shraftide. 1544 Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.) II. 250 Frome all halouday vntyll Shrostyde. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV. v. iii. 38 'Tis merry in Hall, when Beards wagge all; And welcome merry Shrouetide. c 1618 Moryson Itin. iv. 488 Paying their tribute to the Pope at Shrostyde, when they are allowed to shewe publike games. 1670 R. Lassels Voy. Italy I. 214 Having spunn out thus the time till near Carnavale or shroftide. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc x. 434 He could sing Carols for Shrove-tide, or for Candlemas. 1853 Rock Ch. Fathers III. ii. 61 Shrove-tide, or the week before Lent. |
| 1544 in Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.) 96 The tenauntes..shall befor Shrosty next..pay the rerages of the same. 1573 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 212 To know..his pleasure for preparacions to be made against Shrovety. |
b. fig. A time of merriment.
| 1840 Longfellow Span. Stud. iii. i, Enjoy the merry shrove⁓tide of thy youth! |
c. attrib., as
Shrovetide even,
Shrove-tide-fool;
† Shrovetide cock, a cock tied up and pelted with sticks on Shrove Tuesday;
† Shrovetide hen, a hen sent as a present on Shrove Tuesday.
| 1598 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. v, A Shroftide Hen, Which bought to giue, he takes to sell agen. c 1640 H. Bell Luther's Colloq. Mens. (1652) 283 The world cannot live without such Vizards and Shrovetide-Fools. 1700 Dryden Fables, Cock & Fox 106 Never was Shrovetide-Cock in such a Fear. 1768 J. Trusler Hogarth Moralized 180 Throwing at a cock, the universal shrove-tide amusement. 1789 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Subj. for Painters 7 Martyr beat like Shrovetide cocks with bats. 1820 Scott Monast. xxxiv, As surely..as ever cock fought on Shrove-tide-even. |