Whitsun

Forms: 3 witsonen, witesone, 4 witsone, 4–6 Wytson, 5 Wyte-, Wytt-, White-, Whyght-, (Sc. Vit-), 5–6 Whyt-, 5–7 Wit-, 5–8 Whitson, 6 Whitsone, Wytsone, -sen, Witteson, (Sc. Vytson), 7–8 Whitsund, Whit-sun, 7– Whitsun. β. 5 Sc. quysson, 5, 9 dial. Whisson, 7 Whesen. (See also following words.) [ME. w(h)itsone(n, the first two elements of WHIT SUNDAY, WHITSUNDAY, analysed as Whitsun Day. Cf. ON. hvítasunna Whitsunday, hvítasunnuvika Whitsun week, hvítasunnuaptann Whitsun eve.]

  1.  Used attrib. to denote something belonging to, connected with, or occurring at the season of Whit Sunday or Whitsuntide: as Whitsun air, contribution, fair, holiday, market, morn, morris-dance, pastoral; Whitsun ale Hist. [ALE 3], a parish festival formerly held at Whitsuntide, marked by feasting, sports and merry-making; † Whitsun eve, even (EVE sb.¹ 2, EVEN sb. 2], the day before Whit Sunday; † Whitsun farthing = PENTECOSTAL sb.; Whitsun gillyflower, local name for a double-flowered variety of rocket (Hesperis matronalis); † Whitsun lady, lord, titles of the leading or presiding personages at a Whitsun ale; Whitsun week, the week beginning with Whit Sunday, Whit-week. Also occas. in names of the days of Whit-week, as Whitsun Sunday (obs. or dial.) = WHIT SUNDAY, Whitsun Monday, etc. = Whit Monday, etc. (see after WHIT SUNDAY). See also WHITSUNTIDE.

1846.  Keble, Lyra Innoc., X. xi. Thy dread Hours, Thou awful Trinity, Are but the *Whitsun airs, new set on high.

1614.  W. Browne, Sheph. Pipe, I. C 6. This is a Tale Would befit our *Whitson-ale.

1619.  Pasquil’s Palin., B 3. Happy the age,… When euery village did a May-pole raise, And Whitson-ales, and May-games did abound.

1633.  Charles I., Decl. conc. Sports, 11. That after the end of Diuine Seruice, Our good people be not disturbed, letted, or discouraged from … hauing of May-Games, Whitson Ales, and Morris-dances.

1698.  Wallis, in Phil. Trans., XX. 301. When they flock about a Ballad-Singer in a Fair, or the Morrice-Dancers at a Whitsund Ale.

1727.  Somerville, Yeoman of Kent, 32. At Whitson-ales king of the May … He tript it on each holyday.

1842.  J. Aiton, Dom. Econ. (1857), 95. Royal proclamations had failed to revive Whitsunales, and May games, and Morris dancers. People will not be merry by rule.

1695.  Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 597. The Pentecostals or *Whitsun-contributions.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11855. A *witsonen eue hii come þer.

1475[?].  Paston Lett. (1904), V. 232. Wretyn at Mawteby, on Wyteson eve.

1553–4.  in Swayne Churchw. Acc. Sarum (1896), 99. Ryngyng’ none on Whytson yeve, ij d.

1624.  Laud, Diary, 15 May, Saturday, Whitsun-eve, The Bill passed in Parliament.

1709.  First Publishers of Truth (1907), 242. The day Called whitsoneve.

c. 1425.  in Rep. MSS. Ld. Middleton (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1911), 107. On *Qwysson even everilke man breke his severyll gresse, os hym lykes.

1535.  Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 165. On Wytson evyne was a gret thonder at London.

1620.  Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 26/1. Die Sabbati ante festum Pentecostes lie Witson-evin et 12 Nov.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 427. Loitering at the *Whitsun-fair.

1656.  in Urwick, Nonconf. Worc. (1897), 56. Oblations commonly called by the name of *Whitson Farthings payable to the Dean and Chapter of W[orcester].

1730.  Bailey (folio), s.v. Quadragesimals, Pentecostals or Whitsund Farthings.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 852/1. Whitsun-Farthings, Otherwise called Smoke-farthings…, a composition for offerings., anciently made in Whitsun-week by every man in England, who occupied a house with a chimney, to the cathedral church of the diocese.

1656.  W. Coles, Art of Simpling, xi. 33. May brings Roses, Pinks, *Whitsungilliflowers.

1886.  Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Gilliflower, Whitsun. The double-flowered variety of Hesperis matronalis,… Som. (Whitsun Gilawfers).

1533.  Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 163. Justis at Weste[m]ynster all þe *Wytson halydais.

1609.  B. Jonson, Silent Wom., III. i. Were you ever so much as look’d upon by a Lord,… but on the Easter, or Whitsonholydayes?

1715.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5336/1. Their Majesties intend to go after the Whitsun-Holidays to Marienzell.

1656.  Heylin, Surv. France, 47. A Kitchen-wench,… now so tricked up with scarfs, rings, and cross-garters, that you never saw a *Whitsun-Lady better rigged.

1611.  Melismata, F 2 b. Ich haue beene twise our *Whitson Lord.

1633.  B. Jonson, Tale of Tub, Prol. 8. Old records Of antique proverbs, drawn from Whitson-lords.

1495.  Halyburton, Ledger (1867), 108. At the *Vitson merkat.

1501.  Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 154. From Lyncolns Inne,… this *Whitsonemunday.

1622.  in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 315. The new Venetian ambassador … had his first audience on Whitsun-Monday.

1687.  MSS. Dk. Rutland (Hist. MSS. Comm.), II. 113. Whesen Monday.

1778.  Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), Linton,… 10 miles from Cambridge … has a market on Thursday, and fairs on Whitsun-Monday, and August 4.

1535.  Starkey, Lett., in England (1871), p. xxii. Your letturys … were receyuyd apon *Wytson morn.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 25. Busied with a *Whitson Morris-dance. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 134. I play as I haue seene them do In *Whitson-Pastorals.

1556.  Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 36. On *Wytsonsonday, which was the xxxj. of May, was the coronacion.

1825.  Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Whisson-Sunday, Whitsunday.

1612.  Hopton, Concord. Yeares, 173. *Whitsun-thursday.

1599.  Min. Archdeaconry of Colchester, lf. 248 (MS.). In the afternoone on Whitson monday and *Whitson tuasedaye all daye.

1662.  Bk. Com. Prayer, N 3. Whitsun Tuesday.

1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 403/1.

1549.  Compl. Scot., 163. *Vytson veddyinsday.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10542. Þe þorsdai þe *witesonewouke to londone lowis com.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xl. (Ninian), 734. Of witsone owke þe twysday.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxii. 147. Apon a Seterday in Whisson woke.

1478.  Paston Lett., III. 224. Wretyn at London, the Wednysdaye in Whyghtsonweke.

1551–2.  Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI., c. 3. Monday and Tewisdaye in Witteson weike.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 95. On Wednesday in Whitson week.

1634.  Bk. Com. Prayer, H 5. Munday in Whitsun weeke.

1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, v. The great annual town-holiday of Whitsun-week.

  2.  sb. Short for WHITSUNTIDE. rare.

1849.  Disraeli, in Monypenny & Buckle, Life (1914), III. viii. 204. There will be a hot and perhaps eventful campaign between this and Whitsun. Ibid. (1856), (1916), IV. iii. 45. We had a very brisk and bustling season during the six weeks that elapsed between Easter and Whitsun.