Childermas arch.
(ˈtʃɪldəmæs)
Forms: 1 cilda-mæsse, 4 childerne masse, children masse, 4–7 childermasse, 6 -messe, 6–9 -mas.
[Repr. OE. *cildramæsse (cyldamæsse is found), f. cildra of infants + mæsse, mass.]
1. The festival of the Holy Innocents (the 28th of December), commemorating the slaughter of the children by Herod (Matt. ii. 16). Usually childermas-day, Childermas-tide.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. ii. 13 rubric, Ðys god-spel sceal on cylda-mæsse dæᵹ. c 1300 Beket 2009 Amorwe a childerne massedai. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 49 Þe legende þat is i-rad a children masse day. 1460 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 117 On chyldermasse day yn cristemasse. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Les Innocens, as le jour des Innocens, childermas day at christmasse. 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair ii. vi. (1631) 31 Hold thy hand, childe of wrath..make it not Childermasse day in thy fury. 1720 Strype Stow's Surv. (1754) I. i. xxv. 186/1 The children every Childermas day to go to Paul's church. 1849–53 Rock Ch. Fathers III. ix. 220 At Childermas-tide. 1889 Letts's Diary 28 Dec., Innocents' Day, Childermas. |
2. ‘The day of the week throughout the year, answering to the day in which the feast of the holy Innocents is solemnized’ (J.).
| 1602 Carew Cornwall 32/1 That proues as ominous to the fisherman as the beginning a voyage on the day when Childermas day fell doth to the Mariner. 1745 Swift Direct. Servants, The Cook, Friday and Childermas are two cross days in the week, and it is impossible to have good luck on either of them. |