holy bread
Forms: see holy; also 6–7 hally-, halli-, 7 halle-.
The (ordinary leavened) bread which was blessed after the Eucharist and distributed to those who had not communicated: corresponding to the eulogia of the Greek Church and the French pain bénit. b. In post-Reformation times, The bread provided for the Eucharist.
| a 1300 Sat. People Kildare x. in E.E.P. (1862) 154 Hail be ȝe, prestis..whan ȝe deliþ holibrede, ȝiue me botte a litil. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 838 Ete noght ar þou haue holy brede. c 1405 Bidding Prayer ii. in Lay Folks Mass Bk. 65 For thaim that halybred gaf to this kirk to day. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Pr., Communion (Rubric), In suche Chapelles annexed where y⊇ people hath not bene accustomed to pay any holy bread, there they must..make..prouision for the bering of the charges of the Communion. 1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 179 As in their Holy-bread on Sondayes for them that doe not communicate. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. iv. 15 His kissing is as ful of sanctitie, As the touch of holy bread. 1619 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 175 P{supd} for holye brede for the whole yeare for the Communion, xviijd. 1782 Priestly Corrupt. Chr. II. vi. 16 Some churches substituted what they called eulogies, or holy bread for the bread of the Lord's Supper. 1866 Peacock Eng. Ch. Furniture 86 note, The holy bread, holy loaf, or Eulogia, was ordinary leavened bread blessed by the priest after mass, cut up into small pieces and given to the people. |
c. attrib. and Comb., as holy bread cake, holy bread cantle, holy bread cloth, holy bread loaf, holy bread silver, holy bread skep.
| 1552 Huloet, Holy breade loofe, strues. 1575–6 Durham Depos. (Surtees) 278 The said inhabitors every 7 yere paid hally bread syllver, viz. 3d. for every Sonday in the hole yere. Ibid. 281 Hallybread caike. Ibid., The said clerk cut off a part of the said caike, cauld the hally breid cantle, to gyve to ther next neighbour. 1640 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 103 Item this yeere, 1640, the churchwardens receved of the parish for holly bread silver but only 3s. 6d. |