Chrisom

Forms: 4–5 crisum, 4–7 crisom(e, 5 crysume, krysome, (crysun), 5–7 crysom(e, 6 cresom, crisyme, (christome, crison), 7 crizum, chrissome, 6–7 chrisome, 6–9 chrysom(e, 6– chrisom. See also CHRISM. [A variant of chrism representing a popular dissyllabic pronunciation, such as may still be heard in pris-um, spas-um, and the like: cf. the earliest quot. from Cursor Mundi. Eventually this form was somewhat differentiated from chrism in the primary sense.]

  1.  A dissyllabic pronunciation of CHRISM, in senses 1 and 2.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 142. Coround in kyth wyth crysume enoyntede.

1552.  Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 17. Crisyme quhilk is the sensibil signe or mater of Confirmatioun.

1611.  Cotgr., Cresme, the Crisome, or Oyle wherewith a Baptized Child is annointed.

1725.  trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist., I. v. 59. Confirmation has different Names … it is called Unction, Chrisom, the Sacrament of Chrisom. Ibid., 60. That the Oil, after Consecration, was … the Chrisom of Jesus Christ.

  2.  (In full, chrisom-cloth, -robe, etc.): A white robe, put on a child at baptism as a token of innocence: originally, perh. merely a head-cloth, with which the chrism was covered up to prevent its being rubbed off. In the event of the child’s death within a month from baptism, it was used as a shroud: otherwise it, or its estimated value, was given as an offering at the mother’s purification.

  a.  c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 95. Þe crisme cloð þe þe prest biwindeð þat child mide.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25725. Þof vr life last bot a quile, vr crisum [Gött. crisme, Fairf. crisome] clath ful son we file.

1530.  Tindale, Answ. More, Wks. III. 20. The oil, salt, spittle, taper and chrisom-cloth.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 731/2. In case he died as many children doe in y^e chrisome cloth or in the cradle.

1846.  Keble, Lyra Innoc. White Apparel, xi. What if chrisom robes be sin-defiled.

1852.  Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), III. xii. 95. The babe in a chrysom robe costing 554£ was baptized by Bishop Waynflete.

  b.  [Cf. c. 890 in CHRISM 3].

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 11. At the fonsston Ther we were croysid in a crysun with a carful krye.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. iii. 22. The whyte robe the whiche is called the crysome.

1549.  Prayer Bk., Baptism, The minister shall put vpon him his white vesture, commonly called the Crisome…. Then the prieste shall annoynt the infant vpon the head. Ibid., Purification, The woman that is purifyed, must offer her Crysome and other accustomed offeringes.

1558.  Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., iv. 23. After he bee anoynted with the holye chrisme, he hathe a white vesture or Chrisome put uppon him.

1563.  Lanc. Wills (1857), I. 176. Twentie handcarchaftes w^ch seemed to have byn crysoms vjs. viijd.

1639.  J. Mayne, City Match, IV. iii. 41.

1668.  Lond. Gaz., No. 247/3. The Dutchesse d’Enguyen distributing the following Honours … the Towel … the Bason and Ewer … the Salt and Chrysome to the Prince de Conti.

1825.  Fosbroke, Encycl. Antiq. (1843), I. 131. The Chrysome, or face cloth which covered the child at its baptism.

  3.  The alb or surplice of a priest.

1570.  B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., I. (1880), 14 b. Thereupon he puttes a lynnen Crysome white, A vesture such as children weare, when first they come to light.

1574.  J. Studley, trans. Bale’s Pag. Popes, Ep. Reader. Albes, vestments … surplices, tippets, coyfes, chrismes, mantel and the ringe.

1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vne Aube, a crison [1593 crisom], the albe or surplesse of a priest.

  4.  (In full, chrisom-child, -babe, etc.): orig. A child in its chrisom-cloth; a child in its first month; an innocent babe.

  a.  c. 1275.  Serving Christ, 11, in O. E. Misc., 90. Þer þe crysme child for sunnes sore schal dred.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 12. A made a finer end, and went away and it had beene any Christome Child.

1651.  Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, i. § 2. Undiscerned, as are the Phantasms that make a Chrisome-child to smile.

1654.  Vilvain, Epit. Ess., vii. lxix. 184.

1680.  Bunyan, Life Mr. Badman, 340. Mr. Badman died like a Lamb; or as they call it, like a Chrisom child, quietly and without fear.

1829.  Southey, O. Newman, vi. Like baptism to a chrysome babe, Something that means he knows and recks not what.

  b.  a. 1667.  Jer. Taylor, Serm., xxvi. (1678), 396. The lot of dying Chrysoms, whose portion must be among those who never glorified God with a free obedience.

1755.  in Johnson.

  b.  In obituaries and the like, applied to a child that died during the first month or shortly after baptism, and was shrouded in its chrisom-cloth.

  Some think that it was applied to children that died unbaptized; but indisputable evidence of this has not been found, although modern editors have so understood quot. 1601, and the like; and cf. CHRISOMER.

1542.  Par. Reg. St. Mich. Bristol. A crisom of a strange minister … bur. 29 Dec.

1593.  Par. Reg. Twickenham. The Cobler’s crisom child, bur. 12 Mar.

1601.  Par. Reg., in Masson, Milton, i. The 12^th of May anno 1601 was buried a Chrysome Child of M^r John Mylton’s of this Parish.

1619.  Par. Reg., in Christy, Trade Signs Essex, etc. (1887), 32. A chrisome son of Robt. Ogden … was buried the xxx day of December.

1670.  Blount, Glossogr., Chrisomes, in the Bills of Mortality are such children as die within the month of birth, because during that time they use to wear the Chrisom cloth.

1687.  in J. S. Burn, Par. Reg. (1862), 127. The Princess Anns Child, a Chrissome bu. in y^e Vault, Oct. 22. 1687.

1704.  Cocker, Dict., Chrism … also a Child dying before Baptism, or within a month of wearing the Chrisme Cloath.

1854.  Hook, Ch. Dict., By an abuse of words, the term is now used … to denote children who die before they are baptized.

1862.  Sir H. Taylor, St. Clement’s Eve, I. ii. Strangling Chrisom babies e’er the Priest Sweating with haste could haste to christen them.

  c.  gen. Infant, babe, innocent.

1596.  Nashe, Saffron Walden, 127. This turn-broach comparison of a chicken and a chrisome, with one of the most tryed Souldiours of Christendome.

1636.  Davenant, Witts, V. i. Thou … wouldst not join thy halfpenny To send for milk for the poor chrisom.

1638.  Ford, Fancies, IV. i. (1811), 187. The boy, surely … was to any man’s thinking, a very chrisome in the thing you wot.

c. 1640.  Shirley, Capt. Underwit, III. ii. in Bullen, Old Pl., II. 364. How do you like the novice … Is he not a pretty Chrisome?

  d.  dial. Silly person, idiot. (See quot.)

1883.  Almondsbury & Huddersf. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Chrisom, still used in the local dialect, and probably signifies a pitiable object, such as a man reduced to a skeleton. Sheffield dial. (S. O. Addy) Does ta think I’d marry an old chrisom like thee.

  5.  ? = CHRISMATORY.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 962/1. The Ladie Marie of Norfolke, bearing the Chrysome which was very rich of Pearle and Stone.

  6.  attrib. and in Comb., as chrisom-lace, -pie; chrisom-calf (see quot.); chrisom-child (see 4); chrisom-cloth, -robe (see 2 a); chrisom-loosing [OE. crism-liesing]: ? leaving off of the baptismal cloth or robe.

1661.  Blount, Glossogr., s.v., Chrisom, In some parts of England a calf kill’d before it is a month old, is called a *chrisom-calf.

1530.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 297. Item to hys wyff my *crysom laces.

a. 887.  O. E. Chron., an. 878. His [Godrum’s] *crism lising wæs æt Weþmor.

1869.  Hook, Lives Abps., I. vi. 310. Twelve days … the warriors dwelt in the Saxon camp: on the eighth the chrisom-loosing began.

1683.  Shipman, Carolina, 113.