[ad. (ult.) Gr. Χριστοφόρος Christ-bearing, which became a Christian proper name.]
† 1. A figure of St. Christopher. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 115. A cristofre on his brest of silver shene.
1488. Will of Scotte (Somerset Ho.). a Tabulet of goold with a cristofre.
[1845. J. Saunders, Cabinet Pict. Eng. Life, Chaucer, 85. St. Christopher, as the patron of field sports, and as presiding also over the state of the weather, was of course pre-eminently the forester’s guardian saint.]
† 2. A bearer, as St. Christopher was of Christ. Obs.
a. 1563. Bale, Sel. Wks. (1849), Such christophers of the devil.
3. Herb Christopher: a book-name of the Bane-berry (Actæa spicata); also formerly of the Flowering Fern (Osmunda regalis); and the Flea-bane (Pulicaria dysenterica). Stinking Christopher: a book-name for Scrophularia aquatica and nodosa.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. lxi. 402. We may cal it … in English Osmonde the Waterman, Waterferne, and Saint Christophers herbe.
1633. T. Johnson, Gerard’s Herbal, 483 (Britt. and Holl.). In Cheape side the herbe-women call it [Pulicaria dysenterica] Herbe Christopher.
1866. Treas. Bot., 16. Actæa spicata … is sometimes called Herb Christopher.
1879. Prior, Brit. Plant-n.
