Obs. [a. OF. vernage, vernace, vernache, ad. It. vernaccia ‘a kind of strong wine like malmesie or muskadine, or bastard wine’ (Florio, 1598). Cf. med.L. vernagium, vernacium, vernachia.] A strong and sweet kind of white Italian wine.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 563. He drinkith ypocras, clarre, and vernage Of spices hote, to encrese his corrage.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 8. In stede of drinke I underfonge A thoght so swete in mi corage, That nevere Pyment ne vernage Was half so swete forto drinke.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 22. Take vernage, oþer strong wyne of þe beste þat a man may fynde [etc.].
c. 1460. Play Sacram., 428. They faryd as dronk men of pymente or vernage.
c. 1500. Colin Blowbol’s Test., 339. Malmasyes, Tires, and Rumneys,… Vernage, Cute, and Raspays also.
attrib. a. 1400. Sqr. lowe Degre, 754. Ye shall have rumney and malmesyne, Both ypocrasse, and vermage wyne.
So † Vernagelle, a variety of vernage. Obs.–1
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 118. The namys of swete wynes y wold þat ye them knewe: Vernage, vernagelle, wyne Cute, pyment.
