Gallican, a. and n.
(ˈgælɪkən)
Also 7 gallicane.
[ad. L. Gallicānus, f. Gallic-us Gallic a.1 Cf. F. gallican (not -ain) in ecclesiastical sense.]
A. adj.
1. a. gen. = Gallic a.1 Obs. exc. in palæographical use.
| 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus Descr. Germanie vi. 270 The Gallican toong doth conuince the Gothinos..not to be Germans. 1628 Sir R. Le Grys tr. Barclay's Argenis 215 He therefore (a wickednesse not familiar with our Gallicane spirits) attempted vs both with poyson. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4426/8 The Popish Pretender and Pupil of the Gallican Tyrant. 1805 T. Harral Scenes of Life I. 100 The culprit pleaded the restraint of marriage upon the will, and upon the affections, with every other common-place sophism of Gallican philosophy. 1883 I. Taylor Alphabet II. 176 note, A copy of the Sermons of St Severianus..must also represent the Gallican script, which was the parent of the Irish uncial. |
b. Eccl. (= med.L. Gallicanus), the distinctive epithet of the ancient Church of Gaul or France, and of its characteristic usages, liturgies, etc. as compared with those of other national Churches of the Roman communion. Hence applied to that school of French Roman Catholics of which Bossuet was the leader, which maintains the right of the French Church to be in certain important respects self-governing, and free from papal control; opposed to Ultramontane.
| [1169 Becket Let. to Pope Alexander in Mat. Hist. Thos. Becket (1885) VII. dlxxxiii. 121 Forma fidelitatis exigit in ecclesia Gallicana et Anglicana [etc.].] 1633 Bp. Morton Disch. 5 Imputations 263 For the defence and preservation of the Gallicane Regalities and Liberties. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. i. 2 The Vigilance of France in maintaining the Gallicane Rites. Ibid. 16 The French keep close to their Gallican Church. 1724 Waterland Athan. Creed iv. 61 This more correct Psalter..obtain'd first in Gaul about 580..From which circumstance it came to have the name of Gallican, in contradistinction to the Roman. 1850 Neale East. Ch. I. i. 15 The Gallican theory [of church government] views the Church as a constitutional monarchy. |
† 2. = French-sick: see French 7. Obs.
| 1694 Westmacott Script. Herb. 3 Sweet Almonds..are commonly allowed by Physicians, to be eaten with a few Raisins..for a Supper, by their Gallican Patients. Ibid. 25. |
B. n. a. One who favours friendly relations with France. rare. b. A member of the Gallican party in the French Church.
| 1876 Bancroft Hist U.S. VI. xlvi. 302 In regard to the foreign relations of the country [United States], Congress was divided between what the French envoy named ‘Gallicans’ and ‘anti-Gallicans’. 1882 Athenæum 8 July 41/3 He is no Papist or Ultramontane, but a Gallican..a genuine Gallican of the school of Bossuet. |
Hence ˈGallicanist, one who favours the independence of the Gallican Church.
| 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. i. 64 Gallicanists, Italicanists, Secular Priests. 1882–3 Schaff Encycl. Relig. Knowl. III. 1986 As the former proved him to be a Jansenist, and the latter a Gallicanist, a conflict with the Jesuits was unavoidable. |