vbl. sb. For forms see CHRISTEN v. [f. CHRISTEN v. + -ING1.]
† 1. Conversion to or reception of Christianity; becoming a Christian. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29257 (Cott.). Þat wiche-craft … dos wit ani halud thing, and sua for-dos þair cristnyng. Ibid. (c. 1340), 19728. Barnabas … made hem of his cristenyng bolde.
2. The action or ceremony of baptizing, baptism.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28331 (Cott.). Quare barne wit-vten cristening was for-farne.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems (1849), 8. Wet may be the materie, Wer-inne cristninge may be mad.
1481–90. Howard Househ. Bks. (1841), 282. The crystenyng of mastyr Gorgis chylde.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. iv. 10. You must be seeing Christenings? Do you looke for Ale, and Cakes heere, you rude Raskalls?
1712. Act 10 Anne, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4981/3. The Register-Books for Christnings belonging to the respective Parishes.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 337. The pomp of the christenings and burials.
3. In various transf. and allusive senses.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, Wks. (1573), 152/1. The Byshops … reserued to them selues, also the Christenyng of Belles.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (1870), 41. A Byll against the abuse of sacred things, as christening of doggs, &c.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxiv. They … sprinkled it with turpentine…. This infernal christening performed, [etc.].
1872. Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., v. 79. No profane christening, no conversion of the bell into a punch bowl.
1889. Daily News, 17 April, 3/6. After the customary service, conducted by the dockyard chaplain…, the christening and floating out were performed by Miss Gorst.
4. attrib. and Comb., as christening-bout, -cake, -day, -dinner, feast, -font, -water; christening blanket, cloak, a blanket or cloak in which a child is christened; † christening-book, a book containing the baptismal service.
1755. Smollett, Quix. (1803), IV. 299. Brought up to the business, even from their *christening blankets and swaddling clothes.
c. 1475. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 755/15. Hoc manuale, a *crystynningboke.
a. 1843. Southey, Roprecht, IV. At a *christening bout.
1876. Rock, Text. Fabr., 108. Specimens of the *christening cloaks, anciently in use.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, viii. A bridal banquet, or a *kirstening feast, or suchlike.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 256. A *Christning Font.
1631. Howes, Stow’s Chron. (Brand). For godfathers and godmothers … to give … *christening shirts, with little bands and cuffs, wrought either with silke or blew threed.
1874. Dasent, Tales from Field, 188. Were you gone after *Christening water, that you were gone so long?
