Marymass
(ˈmɛərɪmæs)
Also 6–7 Sc. Marymess.
[f. Mary + mass n.1]
1. A festival of the Virgin Mary, esp. † (a) in OE., Candlemas, 2 Feb.; (b) the Assumption, 15 Aug. (now only local Sc.); † (c) latter Marymass, the Nativity of the Virgin, 8 Sept. Also attrib. in † Marymas fast, Marymass holidays.
| c 1000 Menologium 20 (February) And þæs embe ane niht Þæt we Marian mæssan healdað..for þan heo Crist on þam dæᵹe..brohte to temple. 1052 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 290 Ehta daᵹas to ðære ærre sanctæ Marian mæssan and ehta daᵹas to ðære æftran sancta Marian mæssan. 1492 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 265/2 Þe somme of j{supc} merkis..at þe fest of Sanct Iohne þe baptist callit midsommer nixt tocum, & ane vther j{supc} merkis at þe latter marymess nixt þareftir. 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 34 This letter marymess. 1578 Whetstone 1st Pt. Promos & Cass. ii. v, Tenne to one I read his fortune by the Marymas fast. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize xiv, Was na it my Lord himsel', at last Marymas, when he sent for me to make a hoop to mend her leg. 1903 Glasgow Herald 20 Aug., Irvine Harbour. Marymass Holidays. [Work suspended between Friday 21 Aug. and Tuesday 25 Aug.] |
† 2. A mass in honour of the Virgin Mary; in 16th c. used in the asseveration by the Mary mass.
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 715/2 She..sayde he wer worthy by the mary masse to be hanged by the necke. 1553 Respublica ii. ii. 11 (Brandl) 301 Yea, by the Marye Masse. 1852 Rock Ch. of Fathers III. i. 264 The gilds in the parish often helped to keep up the Mary-Mass. |