† ˈcompanage Obs.
Also 4 -penage, -pernage.
[a. OF. companage, -penage (in med.L. compānāgium, Pr. companatge): —late L. compānāticum, f. com- together with + pān-is bread: see -age. The corrupt form compernage occurs also in med.L. compernagium: see Spelman.]
Whatever is eaten along with bread as an accompaniment or relish, e.g. butter, cheese, meat, fish, fruit, salad; = L. obsōnium, Sc. ‘kitchen’.
(It does not include drink, as wine, beer, milk.)
| c 1325 Pol. Songs (Camden 1839) 240 Thah he ȝeve hem cattes-dryt To huere companage. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 19 Þese fewe litil fishes þat þei hadden to companage. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 405 They haueþ growel to potage And a leke is skyn [MS. α a leke his kyn] to compernage [Caxton companage]. 1679 Blount Anc. Tenures 153 Every two workmen had three Boon-loaves with Companage allowed them. |