Obs. [f. CHRISOM + -ER.]
1. A newly baptized child, still wearing the chrisom or christening robe; an innocent babe; an infant that died within a month of baptism.
1574–5. Reg. Holy Cross, Canterb., 9 Jan. A chrisomer, ye chelde of Henry Jenkynson, bu[ried].
1605. Camden, Rem. (1629), 241. She had brought forth two monsters Lambert and Peter … neither were they Chrysomers, but such child-choppers, that as soone as euer they were borne, they were able to wage warre with a mighty King.
1692. Par. Reg. St. Mich. Bristol. John Hall, chrisomer, bur. 4 June.
b. ? An ‘innocent,’ an idiot.
1567. Par. Reg. Herne, Kent, in Biblioth. Topogr., I. 99. Ould Arnold, a crysomer, buried February 8.
2. ? An unbaptized child.
1886. N. & Q., 7th S. II. 96. A portion of the Churchyard … which he designated Chrisomers’ Hill, where, said he [sexton, c. 1840] ‘the unbaptized children be always buried.’
