Martin3
(ˈmɑːtɪn)
Also 6 Marten, -yn, Merteryn. The name of St. Martin (see martin1) used attrib. and in Comb.
† 1. Martin chain, a sham gold chain. (Cf. 3 b.)
| a 1560 Becon Jewel of Joy Wks. ii. 19 b, Certayne lyght braynes..wyll rather weare a Marten chayne, the pryce of .viii.d. then they woulde be vnchayned. |
2. More fully
† Martin dry, also [
Fr.]
‖ Martin sec: a kind of pear, so called from being ripe at Martinmas. [
Cf. G.
Martinsbirne.]
| 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1679) 34 Pears{ddd}November{ddd}Martin sec. 1672 ― tr. Fr. Gard. (1675) 118 (Pears) The dry Martins. 1708 Kersey, Martin-dry, a kind of Pear, that ripens at the middle of November. 1860 Hogg Fruit Man. 200 Martin Sec (Dry Martin). 1875 Ibid. (ed. 4) 479 The Martins are perhaps the earliest varieties [of pears] grown amongst us. |
3. † a. St. Martin:
St. Martin's day, Martinmas.
| 1533 Presentm. Juries in Surtees Misc. (1888) 34 That every man make his fens..before Seynt Merteryn. |
† b. St. Martin's: the parish of
St. Martin-le-Grand, London, formerly celebrated as the resort of dealers in imitation jewellery.
| 1572 in Extracts Acc. Revels at Court (Shaks. Soc.) 24 John Wever of Saint Martins for Copper silver frenge, xvij oz{supc}⊇ at [blank] the ounce. 1607 Dekker Westw. Ho ii. i, You must to the pawne to buy Lawne: to Saint Martins for Lace. 1618 G. Mynshul Ess Prison 23 They are like the rings and chaines bought at S. Martines, that weare faire for a little time, but shortly after will proue Alchimy or rather pure Copper. |
c. (St.) Martin's, in composition.
St. Martin's bird, the hen-harrier [
= F.
oiseau de S. Martin,
Cotgr.];
St. Martin's day, the 11th of November, Martinmas;
(St.) Martin's eve, the eve of
St. Martin's day, 10th November;
St. Martin's evil, drunkenness (
Cent. Dict.);
St. Martin's flower (see
quot.);
† St. Martin's fowl,
= St. Martin's bird;
St. Martin's herb,
= herb of St. Martin (see
herb 7 b);
St. Martin's Lent, the forty days between Martinmas and Christmas Eve (see
Lent n.1 3 b);
† St. Martin's rings, imitation gold rings (see 3 b, and
cf. St. Martin's ware);
† St. Martin's stuff,
ware, counterfeit goods (
cf. 3 b);
St. Martin's Summer, a season of fine mild weather occurring about Martinmas; also
fig.| 1897 F. S. Ellis Reynard 38 And straightway hove within his sight Saint *Martin's bird. |
| 1517 in Nichols Mann. Anc. Times (1797) 272 Payd on Seynt *Marten's day, for bred and drynke for the syngers, vs. |
| 1592 Stow Ann. an. 1280. 300 On S. *Martins euen a great thunder ouerthrew many houses and trees in England. 1598 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. iv. 30 Dried Fliches of some smoked Beeue; Hang'd on a writhen with since Martins eue. |
| 1866 Treas. Bot. 46/1 Alströmeria Flos Martini, the St. *Martin's Flower of Chili. |
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxiii. 73 The myttane, and Sanct *Martynis fowle, Wend he had bene the hornit howle. |
| 1866 Treas. Bot., St. *Martin's herb, Sauvagesia erecta. |
| 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. 4, I doubt whether all be gold that glistereth, sith Saint *Martins rings be but Copper within. 1617 Fennor Compter's Commonw. 28 This kindnesse is but like Alchimy or Saint Martins rings, that are faire to the eye, and haue a rich outside, but if a man breake them a sunder and looke into them [etc.]. |
| 1598 E. Guilpin Skial. (1878) 41, I had thought the last mask..Had..Taught thee S. *Martins stuffe from true gold lace. |
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. ii. 131 This night the Siege assuredly Ile rayse: Expect Saint *Martins Summer, Halcyons dayes. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 560 Then ensued A Martin's summer of his faded love. 1884 St. James's Gaz. 7 Nov. 14/2 The arrival of November has only varied matters by bringing in a St. Martin's summer. |
| 1648 C. Walker Hist. Independ. i. 122 These letters may be St. *Martins ware, counterfeit stuffe. |