[Corruption of CATHERINE. Cf.:

1

1669.  Dryden, Epil. Tyrannick Love, 29.

        Here Nelly lies, who, though she liv’d a Slater’n,
Yet dy’d a Princess, acting in S. Cathar’n.]

2

  A festival or merry-making on St. Catherine’s day (Nov. 25). So Catherning vbl. sb.

3

1596.  Forman, Diary, 27 § 3. At 4 I went first to see the garden catherne.

4

1730.  Lamotte, Ess. Poetry & Paint., 126 (Brand). Young women meeting on the 25th of November, and making merry together, which they call Catherning.

5

  attrib.  [1476.  Will of Scotton (Somerset Ho.). A flatte pece of siluur called a Kateryn cupp.]

6

1849.  Halliwell, Pop. Rhymes (Brand). The Dean of Worcester informs me that the Chapter have a practice of preparing a rich bowl of wine and spices, called ‘The Cathern Bowl,’ for the inhabitants of the college precincts upon that day [Nov. 25].

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