Obs. Also 5 -ette, -yte, -ytte, collect, 6 collet. [Shortened form of ACOLYTE, q.v. It is not clear whether the loss of the a was due to aphesis, or to mistaking it for the indefinite article: cf. a natomie.] = ACOLYTE.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Thess., Prol. By Titicus, a dekene, and Honesym, a colyt [1388 Onesimus, the acolit].
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1549. Clerkez & colettes at to þe kirke longen.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., IV. (1520), 38/2. Fyrst benet, than colet, subdecon, deacon, and than preest.
1500. Ortus Voc., Accolitus, serviens in missâ habens ordinem, a collect.
1530. Palsgr., 207/1. Collet, the seconde order, acolite.
1563. Foxe, A. & M. (1570), II. 1681/1. The lowest vesture, which they had onely in takyng Benet and Collet.
1760–5. Burn, Eccl. Law (1785), I. 2. Acolythus, ἀκολουθος, in our old English called a colet.
Colet, -ette, obs. ff. COLLECT, COLLET.
