Forms: (1 canonic), 3 canon, 3–4 canun, canoun, 3–4 chanun, 3–5 chanoun, 4–7 chanon, 5 chanowne, (cannon), 6–7 channon, 6– canon. [Found in OE. in the form canonic, ad. L. canonic-us, a late L. sb. use of the adj. canonicus CANONIC, f. canōn rule, etc.: see prec. L. canonic-us gave It. canonico, Sp. canonigo, Pr. canorgue. Cat. and Pr. canonge, ONF. cano·nie, later canoi·ne, central F. chanoine, derive from a late L. form *canonius: cf. canonia in Du Cange. The 12th-c. Eng. form was canu·n, later ME. canou·n: apparently an adaptation of the ONF. canonie (pron. kano·nyə), with the ending imperfectly represented (perh. by confusing with CANON sb.1). When this was subsequently influenced by French of Paris, the central Fr. chanoine was represented in Eng. by chanun, chanoun, so common in 14–15th c. But canon reappeared in the 16th c. and is the surviving form, running together with the preceding CANON1, so that many dictionaries treat the two as one word.]
1. Eccl. Hist. A clergyman (including clerks in minor orders) living with others in a clergy-house (claustrum), or (in later times) in one of the houses within the precinct or close of a cathedral or collegiate church, and ordering his life according to the canons or rules of the church. This practice of the canonica vita or canonical life began to prevail in the 8th c.; in the 11th c. it was, in some churches, reformed by the adoption of a rule (based upon a practice mentioned by St. Augustine) that clergymen so living together should renounce private property: those who embraced this rule were known as Augustinian (Austin) or regular, the others were secular canons.
From the ‘regular’ canons, came in the 12th c. those who followed the still stricter rule of Norbert of Premontré, thence called Premonstratensian Canons. These two groups of ‘canons regular’ were popularly distinguished by the color of their habits as Black Canons and White Canons. As these vied, in strictness of living, with the monastic orders, the difference between a canon regular and a monk, became in the later Middle Ages (as now in the R. C. Ch.) so slight that the one is frequently confounded with the other. Thus Littré explains ‘Augustinian Canons’ as ‘moines, dits aussi hermites de Saint-Augustin.’
c. 1205. Lay., 21861. Canones þer comen. Ibid., 24289. Canunes [1275 many canoun] þer weoren.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22002. Clerk, or munk, or canun [v.r. canoun, chanoun].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yem. Prol. & T., 20. I demed hym som Chanon for to be.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VI. 157. Boþe monkes and chanouns.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 69. Chanone, chanonicus.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cxcii. 168. Preestes and frerys and chanons and seculeres.
1518. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 12. All the orders of friers, channons, moncks of Stratforde and Tower Hill.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 580. Students, monks, chanons and other fine and daintie persons.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, II. 21. But Oh! these Chanters, Chanons make a Pother.
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages Eng., 275. An attempt of the anti-reformers to substitute canons for monks in Winchester was put down.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 373. Patrik rered þere a chirche, and dede þere chanouns reguler.
c. 1400. Maundev., vii. 79. In the Chirche of Seynt Sepulchre was wont to ben Chanouns of the ordre of Seynt Augustyn.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. Prol. 86. Of Sanct Androwys a chanowne Regulare.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 54. Abbats and Priours of regular Channons.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. xii. 235. Regular canons, whether in holy orders or not, are always reckoned among those who are bound to a life of chastity.
1297. R. Glouc., 282. Canons þer were Seculers.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburgh (1848), 137. From secular chanons to monkes religious.
1531. Dial. Laws of Eng., II. xl. (1638), 132. Goods gotten by a Canon seculer by reason of his Church … shall not goe to his successor.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. xii. 235. The conversion of the conventual and collegiate clergy into secular canons.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 85. The chapter of the Bishop was formed of secular canons.
2. In the Church of England, since the Reformation, all canons have been secular, and the system of canons has been retained mainly in connection with cathedral churches, where the canons, with the dean at their head, constitute the body of resident ecclesiastical dignitaries, who manage the cathedral, and (formally) elect the bishop. (See CHAPTER.)
The name of Minor or Petty Canons is now sometimes given to those clergymen of the cathedral establishment who assist in performing the daily service, but are not members of the chapter. Honorary Canons are titular members of the cathedral chapter, who are non-residentiary, and receive no emoluments. See also PREBENDARY.
[c. 1305. in E. E. P. (1862), 82. Alle þe Canouns of þe queor.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 33. Neuer kyng ne kniht ne Canoun of Seynt poules.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 223/2. Commaundyng hym … that he shold assemble the chanones of Seint James for to burye thys pylgryme.]
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. v. (1634), 535. There be commonly Canons with five, six or seven benefices.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 143. A College … stored with two and twenty chanons.
1616. Bacon, Adv. to Villiers, Wks. 1872, VI. 31 (J.). The Deans, Canons, and Prebends of cathedral churches.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., iii. 8. He is a main pillar of our Church, though not yet Dean or Canon.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 54, ¶ 3. One of our Petty-Canons.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. xi. 383. The chapter, consisting of canons or prebendaries.
1837. Syd. Smith, Let. Singleton, Wks. 1859, II. 261/2. You are not a Dean nor a Canon-Residentiary.
1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Channings, i. 2. He was one of the senior minor canons.
b. prefixed as a title.
(This fashion has prevailed chiefly since the appointment of titular or honorary canons.)
1849. Birks, Horæ Apost., Pref. p. vii The late Canon Tate.
