Christopher
(ˈkrɪstəfə(r))
[ad. (ult.) Gr. Χριστοϕόρος Christ-bearing, which became a Christian proper name.]
† 1. A figure of St. Christopher. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 115 A cristofre on his brest of silver shene. 1488 Will of Scotte (Somerset Ho.) a Tabulet of goold with a cristofre. [1845 J. Saunders Cabinet Pict. Eng. Life, Chaucer 85 St. Christopher, as the patron of field sports, and as presiding also over the state of the weather, was of course pre-eminently the forester's guardian saint.] |
† 2. A bearer, as St. Christopher was of Christ. Obs.
| a 1563 Bale Sel. Wks. (1849) Such christophers of the devil. |
3. herb Christopher: a book-name of the Baneberry (Actæa spicata); also formerly of the Flowering Fern (Osmunda regalis); and the Flea-bane (Pulicaria dysenterica). stinking Christopher: a book-name for Scrophularia aquatica and nodosa.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens iii. lxi. 402 We may cal it..in English Osmonde the Waterman, Waterferne, and Saint Christophers herbe. 1633 T. Johnson Gerard's Herbal 483 (Britt. and Holl.), In Cheape side the herbe-women call it [Pulicaria dysenterica] Herbe Christopher. 1866 Treas. Bot. 16 Actæa spicata..is sometimes called Herb Christopher. 1879 Prior Brit. Plant-n. |