Forms: 5 amisse, 6 ammes, ammas, ammys, ames, amys, am(m)esse, 6–7 amis(e, 7 amysse, 6, 9 amos, 6– amice. [ad. OFr. aumuce, aumusse (Pr. almussa, med.L. almussa, almussia, almucia, almucium, Sp. almucio, Pg. mursa, It. mozzetta dim. of mozza), of doubtful origin, but generally taken as ad. Ger. mutse, mütze, cap (Sc. mutch), with Arab. article al- prefixed, as in some other non-Arabic technical words. The earliest examples in Eng. show confusion with the prec. word, the likeness between the Eng. adaptations of Fr. aumusse and amit, being assisted by the apparent similarity of use between the two articles; and from the 17th c. this has been distinguished from the prec., only as the grey amice.
1. An article of costume of the religious orders, made of, or lined with grey fur. It varied at different times in character and mode of wearing, being originally (it is said) a cap or covering for the head; afterwards a hood, or cape with a hood; in later times a mere college ‘hood’ or badge, borne by canons in France on the left arm.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas (1554), 222. Al my riches may me nought disport Amisse of gris … a surples and prebende.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 256. Hange vp the scapler, the ames coule and frocke.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurell. Those wordes his grace dyd saye Of an ammas gray.
1527. in Pocock, Rec. Reform., I. xxvi. 54. Four of the doctors prebendaries … in coppes and grey amys.
1530. Palsgr., 194/1. Ammys for a channon, aumusse.
1541. Lanc. Wills (1857), I. 127. An old grey amesse and a rochet xs.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (1852), 94. Iiij. prebenttes … in ther grey amos. Ibid., 94. Their gray ammes. Ibid., 59. Alle the gray ammesse … in Powlles ware put downe.
1564. Wills & Inv. N. C. (1835), 219. My gownes, my surpless, my ij furred amysis.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1184/2. The prebendaries and petie canons commanded to weare no more their graie amises.
1634. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 103. The gray amice, and other popish garments.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 427. Morning fair Came forth with Pilgrim steps in amice gray.
1803. Scott, Last Minstr., II. xix. A palmer’s amice wrapped him round With a wrought Spanish baldric bound.
1868. Marriott, Vest. Chr., 228. Of similar origin is the Amess, often confused with the Amice.
† 2. The fur of the marten or grey squirrel with which the amice was lined or bordered. Obs.
1548. Hall, Chron., 513. Bleu damask purfeled with ames grey.
1573. Art of Limming, 3. You shall with a pencell made of graye amys or calliber tailes laye on thy syse.
1598. Stow, Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. viii. 255/1. Those Knights that have borne the office of the Mayoralty ought to have their Cloaks furred with grey Amis.
