cierge
(ˈsɪədʒ, or as Fr. sɪˈɛrʒ)
Forms: 3–7 cerge, 3–6 serge, 4 serg; also 4–6, 9 cierge, (3 cirge, 5 cyerge, suerge, 6 surge, searge, cearge).
[a. OF. cerge, cirge (12th c.), cierge (13th c.), in Pr. ceri, Sp. cirio:—L. cēreus (later cērius) of wax, waxen, f. cēra wax. The typical Eng. form was cerge, serge; but in actual use the word went out about 1600, and occurs since either as a historical archaism or consciously as French.]
A wax candle or taper, esp. a large wax candle used in religious ceremonies.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 20701 Gas þan..Wit cirges and wit candel-bright Þat ye haf no defaut of light. c 1300 Havelok 594 Also lith was it þer-inne, So þer brenden cerges inne. Ibid. 2125 So þer brenden serges seuene. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6251 The elevene thousand maydens deere, That beren in heven her ciergis clere. c 1400 Apol. Lollards 48 Kirks are not to be worschipped, nor sergs to be multiplied þer in. 1485 Will in Ripon Ch. Acts 278, v serges, ilkoone of a pownde of wax. 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. ix. 103 The blesand torchys schayn and sergis brycht. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge ii. xl, A solemne procession With crosses and baners and surges clere lyght. 1570 Levins Manip. 210 A cearge, caereus. 1593 Mon. & Rites Ch. Durham (1842) 12 Lattin basons..having pricks for serges, or great wax candles, to stand on. 1843 I. F. Romer Rhone, &c. II. 69 The cierges were lighted, and a splendid mass in music performed. |
b. Comb., as cierge-bearer.
| c 1450 in Wr.-Wülcker 682 Hic ceroferarius, a cerg-berare. |