Obs. Forms: 5–6 baygne, 5–7 bayne, baine, 6–7 bane, bain. [a. F. bain (= Pr. banh, It. bagno, Sp. baño):—L. balneum bath.]
1. A quantity of water or other liquid placed in a suitable receptacle, in which one may bathe.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 105 b. His lady … had made redy a right fayr baygne.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, xv. (1596), 284. The baigne must consist of water fresh and warme.
1614. Chapman, Odyss., X. 567. My men, In Circes house, were all, in several bain, Studiously sweeten’d.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., 306. [They] had caused a bane of warmed oyle to be provided for him.
fig. 1563. Myrr. for Mag., Induct. lxvii. And bathed him in the bayne Of his sonnes blud before the altare slayne.
b. The vessel in which this water is held.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), II. 273 a/1. He axed of hym yf he had ony bayne wherin he myghte wasshe hym.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccciv. 702. The cradell wherein the erle was kept … and a fayre bayne wherein he was wont to be bayned.
1543. Recorde, Gr. Arts (1640), 400. He chanced to enter into a Baine full of water to wash him.
c. abstractly, An act of bathing, a bath.
1483. Caxton, Esope, 2 b. Chargyng hym to kepe them tyl he … retourned fro his bayne.
1563. B. Googe, Eglogs (Arb.), 116. Pryncely Nymphes accompanyed Diana in her Baynes.
2. A room or building fitted up for bathing, having hot baths, etc.; a public bath; = BAGNIO 1.
1494. Fabyan, V. cxxv. 106. Whan he came out of his stewe or bayne.
1530. Palsgr., 182. Vnes estevues, a hote house or a bayne.
1540. Hyrde, Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), U iij. That rude and uncomly manner … that men and their wives shal wash both together in one bane.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 216. He passed through a crosse lane to the Baines for to bath.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 197. Bain or Bath, Balneum.
3. A spring of hot or medicinal water.
1538. Leland, Itin., II. 66. The Colour of the Water of the Baynes is as it were a depe Blew Se Water.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 557. Buxton, that of great name shalt be for hote and holsome baine.
1655. Digges, Compl. Ambass., 136. Gone to Arragon, to certain Baynes there, for her health.
4. in pl. Stews; = BAGNIO sb. 3.
1541. Elyot, Image Gov. (1549), 6. In common baines and bordell houses.
1599. Bp. Hall, Sat., VI. i. 27. As pure as olde Labulla from the baynes.
5. Chem. An apparatus for heating through the medium of water, sand, etc., more gradually than by direct exposure to fire. Cf. BATH.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 62. Baines maie helpe and cause also destruction.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, xxxvi. It has been bathed well in the bain or stove.
6. Comb., as bain-keeper.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 107 b. Likewise Barbars, Bainekepers, and Shepherdes.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 174 (R.). Taking no pleasure nor delight in the world … no more than the bain-keeper’s poor asse.
