surplice
(ˈsɜːplɪs)
Forms: 3–7 surplis, 4–6 surples, -plys, 4–7 -plesse, -plise, (4 surplees, 5 sarplys, serples, sorplise, sourples, suplice; sorplers, solepers, sullipers), 5–6 surplyse, -plese, (6 sorplys, syrplys, -plis, -plasse, -pleys, surplyce, -plasse, -plusse, -plois, surpelis, sirplis, -pleys, cirples, scherples; serppelys, shorpells, surpells, -peles, syrpeles), 6–7 surpless, -plisse, 6–8 -plus, (7 syrplesse, surpliss, sirplus, cirploise, serpils), 4– surplice.
[a. AF. surpliz, OF. sourpeliz, sor-, sur-, also supelis, souplis (mod.F. surplis), = Pr. sobrepelitz, It. superpellicio, Sp., Pg. sobrepelliz, ad. med.L. superpellicium, -eum (sc. vestīmentum garment), neut. of adj. f. super- super- 1 a + pellicia fur garment (f. pellis skin: see pelisse).]
A loose vestment of white linen having wide sleeves and, in its amplest form, reaching to the feet, worn (usually over a cassock) by clerics, choristers, and others taking part in church services.
‘Its name is derived..from the fact that it was formerly put on over the fur garments which used to be worn in church..as a protection against the cold’ (Encycl. Brit., 1911, XXVI. 137/1).
| c 1290 All Souls' Day 345 in S. Eng. Leg. 430 His cope oþur is surplis þe preost he seith it isse. c 1325 Metr. Hom. 161 Tua clerkes..In surplices wit serges berande. 13.. Adultery 89 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 369 There come one in a whyte surples [v.r. surplyse]. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 137 A gay surplys As whit as is the blosme vp on the rys. 1429–30 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904) 74 For wasshyng..of aubes & sarplys..ij s. 1491–2 Ibid. 173 A sourples for the clarke..ij s. 1506–7 Ibid. 260 j surplus for boll the sexton xij d. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 9 With your shirtes brodered and displayed In fourme of surplois. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion (Rubr. at end), The Priest shall put upon him a playn Albe or surplesse, with a cope, and say al thinges at the Altar..untill after the offertory. 1553 in Daniel-Tyssen Surrey Ch.-Goods (1869) 102 For newe collering of a scherples. 1553 Machyn Diary 8 Aug. (Camden) 39 A grett company of chylderyn in ther surples. a 1592 Greene Alphonsus iii. Wks. (Grosart) XIII. 368 Rise Calchas vp, in a white Cirples and a Cardinals Myter, and say [etc.]. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. iii. 99 Though honestie be no Puritan, yet it will doe no hurt, it will weare the Surplis of humilitie ouer the blacke-Gowne of a bigge heart. 1617 Assheton Jrnl. (Chetham Soc.) 88 Some argument ab{supt} Mr. Leighs ministring y⊇ Sacrament with the Cirploise. 1633 Rowley Match Midn. i. B 4, Has turn'd his stomacke, for all the World like a Puritanes, at the sight of a surplesse. 1641 Impeachm. Bp. Wren in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 352 He [sc. Bp. Wren]..in the said Year 1636. commanded..all Ministers to Preach constantly in their Hood and Surplice, a thing not used before in that Diocess. 1678 Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. iii. §8. 474/1 Sixtus [I]..ordered..that Priests should minister in Linnen Surplices. 1753 Challoner Cath. Chr. Instr. 153 The Bishop..invests them with a Surplice, and so receives them into the Clergy. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. iii. 816 He fill'd the sevenfold surplice fairly out. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 14 (Westm. Abb.) The choristers, in their white surplices, crossing the aisle and entering the choir. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. v, Is it a point of conscience with you to wear the surplice when you preach? |
| 1440–1 Norwich Sacrist's Roll (MS.), In factura alb. amict. sulliperes. 1492–3 Ibid., Pro xxij ulnis panni linei cum factura de le Solepers, xj s. 1478 Croscombe Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.) 8 Wasscheng of vestments and Sorplers. 1509 Ibid. 30 Of Alys Vaysse a rynge of sylver and a serppelys. 1511 Pilton Churchw. Acc. (ibid.) 60 For mendyng of the shorpells..iiij d. 1566 Engl. Ch. Furniture (Peacock 1866) 85 A alb—wherof ys mayd a surpells for the preste. 1606 Burford Reg. in Var. Coll. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 78 Mr. Segwick hath not worne the serpils sence the tyme he hath ben vicar of Ockborne Saint Andrew. |
b. transf. Applied to various ample or enveloping garments.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. ii. 18 Samuel seruede before the face of the Lord, a child gird with a surplesse [1388 lynnun clooth; Vulg. ephod lineo]. 1382 ― 2 Chron. v. 12 Sonis and bretheren of hem, clothed with surples [1388 white lynun clothis; Vulg. byssinis]. 1488–92 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 85 The surples of the robe riall. 1558 T. Phaer æneid viii. (1562) Cc iij, Some trayling mantels loose, or syrpleys wyndie wyde of skyrts. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 48 Shan O'Neal came out of Ireland with a Guard of Ax-bearing Galloglasses with..yellow surplises. 1756 M. Calderwood in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.) 184 Above this, fine muslin surpluses with point, which makes a very genteel dress. 1898 C. M. Yonge John Keble's Parishes xv. 175 Surplice, smock-frock. ‘Ah! sir, the white surplice covers a great deal of dirt’—said by a tidy woman of her old father. |
c. attrib. and
Comb., as
surplice brabble,
surplice closet,
surplice coat,
surplice fashion;
surplice-backed a., wearing a surplice;
surplice day, a holy day or its eve, when members of a college wear surplices in chapel;
surplice duty, that part of an incumbent's duties which consists in the recital of public prayer;
surplice fees, the dues received by an incumbent for the performance of marriages, burials, and other ministerial offices;
surpliceman nonce-wd., a clergyman;
surplice pin, properly, a peg to hang a surplice on; hence, a hat-peg;
surplice-wise adv., like a surplice.
| a 1845 Hood Dean & Chapter i, Hail to each *surplice-back'd adapter. |
| 1641 Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 54 To make a Nationall Warre of a *Surplice Brabble, a Tippet-scuffle. |
| 1874 J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Par. Churches 161 Besides the *surplice-closets, and a cupboard..there need be no other furniture in the choir-vestry. |
| 1902 Daily Chron. 24 May 8/3 Supposing a bottle-green length were chosen for a costume, it might have a short *surplice coat. |
| 1663 Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 511 To come on *surplice dayes to Merton College prayers. |
| 1824 Hitchins & Drew Cornwall II. 633 The *surplice duty of this parish is now performed by the rector of Blisland. |
| 1845 Hood Surplice Question 3 A very pretty public stir Is making down at Exeter, About the *surplice fashion. |
| 1725 T. Thomas in MSS. Dk. Portland (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 129 The allowance of the Curate here..is twenty marks a year, and the *surplice fees. 1768 Blackstone Comm. iii. vii. 89 Whatsoever falls under the denomination of surplice-fees, for marriages or other ministerial offices of the church. 1818 Bentham Ch. Eng. 49 Surplice fees are unknown in Scotland. |
| 1814 Byron in Lett. & Jrnls. (1898) II. 395 There be some strange phrases in the prologue (the exhortation), which made me turn away, not to laugh in the face of the *surpliceman. |
| 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §691 Five hat pins, or *surplice pins, as they are called by upholsterers. |
| 1459 Paston Lett. I. 475 A goune of clothe of golde, with side slevis, *sirples wise. 1565 Sparke Hawkins' 2nd Voy. (Hakl. Soc.) 54 Gownes of mosse..which they sowe together artificially, and make the same surpleswise. |