Forms: α. 4, 8–9 vernicle, 4 fernycle, 4–6 vernycle. β. 5 vernacul(l, -cule, vernakill, -kylle, 5–9 vernacle, 6 varnacle. [a. AF. and OF. vernicle, = OF. veron(n)icle, varr. of veronique, ad. med.L. veronica the sudarium of St. Veronica: see VERONICA2 and cf. VERONICLE, VERONIQUE. On the change of -ique to -icle see the note to CHRONICLE sb.]
1. The picture or representation of the face of Christ said to be impressed upon the handkerchief or sudarium of St. Veronica (see 2); any similar picture of Christ’s face, esp. one engraved, painted, or worked upon a vessel, garment, ornament, etc., used for religious or devotional purposes; an ornament or token bearing this as worn by pilgrims.
α. 1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 14. Moni Cros on his cloke and keiȝes of Rome, And þe vernicle [C. fernycle] bi-fore for men schulde him knowe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 685. Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare, A vernycle hadde he sowed vp on his cappe.
1467. Paston Lett., Suppl. 111. My master gaff her a gret sygnnet of goolde with the vernycle.
1726. Bailey (ed. 3).
1825. Fosbroke, Encycl. Antiq. (1843), II. 805. The Vernicle, or Veronique,… or face of Christ, miraculously impressed upon a handkerchief.
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. x. 438. A medal stamped with the vernicle showed the pilgrim had visited Rome.
1901. Athenæum, 27 July, 131/3. The vernicle, or face of our Lord, appears in the centre of the paten.
β. a. 1400. Leg. Rood (1871), 170. O vernacule [v.r. vernacul], i honoure him and the, Þat þe made þorow his preuite.
c. 1450. in Maitl. Club Misc., III. 204. Item a tabill of the vernakill in the vestre.
1473. Will of Belasice (Somerset Ho.). My newe chalice with a patent of siluer, the crucifix in the foote of the same chalice gilt and the vernacle upon the same patent gilt.
1516. Will of Grene (ibid.). Lytle masser of syluer and gylt with the vernacles hed in the bothom.
1536. in E. Ledwich, Antiq. Sarisb. (1771), 202. A cope of Green cloth of gold, with a goodly Orphery, having in the Morse a Vernacle.
1534. in Peacock, Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866), 196. Item a Masar with a sengle band with a prynt of the vernacle in the bothom.
1721. Bailey.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, I. iii. I. 293. A large convex piece of fine crystal, showing beneath it the vernacle or face of our divine Redeemer.
1901. E. Hoskins, Horæ B. Mariæ Virg., 125 (trans. text of 1510). The pope John the xxii … hath granted unto all them that devoutly say this prayer beholding the glorious visage or vernacle of our Lord v thousand days of pardon. Ibid., 127. A devout orison to the blessed vernacle of our Lord.
2. The cloth or kerchief, alleged to have belonged to St. Veronica, with which, according to legend, the face of Christ was wiped on the way to Calvary, and upon which His features were miraculously impressed.
This cloth is preserved at St. Peter’s, Rome, and is venerated as a relic.
a. 1400. Stac. Rome, 59. Whon þe vernicle schewed is, Gret pardoun forsoþe þer is.
1517. Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 33. We cam to the howse of Veronica,… wher as our blyssyd Savyor impressyd the ymage of hys Face in hyr wymple whiche ys at Rome. And it ys callyd ther the Vernacle.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 304. Ye blessed relyke the Vernacle, whiche is the very similitude & imprynte of thy blessed & gloryous vysage.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 460. The Vernycle wherewith Christes face was wyped is showed in S. Peters Church at Rome.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 625. He would ask leave to see the Vernacle; which he said, was the picture of Christ given to Women by himself as he went to death.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, II. iii. 51. A large Handkerchief, or Towel,… whereunto, with many others, they put up this devout Orizon: namely, to the Holy Vernacle, as they christen it. Ibid., 52. The most holy Face … Imprinted on a Snow-white Cloth by th’ Power above, And on the Vernacle bestow’d, as Pledge of Love.
1845. J. Saunders, Cabinet Pict. Eng. Life, Chaucer, 14. Thus originated the Sudarium or holy kerchief—the Veronica—and, by corruption, the vernicle.
