Formatting is shot to shit but:
cross, n.
A. Forms. ({alpha}) 1-6 cros, 4-7 crosse, (4-5 croos, 4-7 croce, 5-6 crose), 5- cross.
963-84 Recd. of Gifts of Bp. A{edh}elwold to Medeshamstede in Birch Cartul. Saxon. III. 367 Of {th}am twam hundredum {th}e secæ{edh} into Normannes cros man a{asg}eaf, etc. c1175 WACE Roman de Rou 13, 119 Olicrosse sovent crioent..Olicrosse est en engleiz Ke Sainte Croix est en franceiz. c1205 LAY. 31386 He lette sone arere a muchel cros and mare. a1300 Cursor M. 21637 (Cott.) Meracles o {th}e cros [F. crossis, G. crois, E. croicis] might. a1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xvi. 12 In {th}e crosse hyngand. c1380 WYCLIF Sel. Wks. III. 109 {Th}e peple cryde, Do him on {th}e croos. 1382 {emem} Phil. ii. 8 The deeth of cross [many MSS. the cros]. 1588 A. KING tr. Canisius' Catech. 189 The deathe of the croce. 1611 BIBLE John xix. 25 Stood by the crosse of Iesus. 1654 J. NICOLL Diary (1836) 125 At the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh. 1685 EVELYN Diary 16 Sept., The true Crosse.
({beta}) 3-4 croiz, croyz, creoiz, creoice, creoix, 4-5 (6 Sc.) crois, croys, croyce, croice.
a1225 Ancr. R. 18 A large creoiz. Ibid. 46 And {th}eonne vour creoices. Ibid. 346 Ualle{edh}..a creoix. c1275 O.E. Misc. 50 Lyht adun of {th}e croyz. a1300 Leg. Rood 34 And bo{th}e croys [c 1350 {Th}e twey croyses] eke {th}er-wi{th}. a1300 Cursor M. 21792 (Cott.) Beside {th}e crois [v.r. croice, cros, croz]. c1300 Beket 1884 With croiz and with tapres. c1394 P. Pl. Crede 805, & on {th}e crois dyede. 1413 LYDG. Pylgr. Sowle IV. xx. (1483) 67 He hanged..vpon the croys. c1450 Mirour Saluacioun 2491 How crist bere..the croice.
({gamma}) 5-6 cors, 5-7 corss, (6 corsz, corce), 5- corse.
c1425 WYNTOUN Chron. V. x. 78 (Jam.) Elane that syne fand the Cors. c1470 HENRY Wallace II. 22 Wallace..{ygh}eid to the merkat cors. 1533 GAU Richt Vay 29 The wisdome of the corsz. Ibid. 44 Apone the cors. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 363 (title) How Sanct Andro apperit, and of his Cors in the air. Ibid. Sanct Androis corce. Ibid. Quhat that corss suld mene. 1615 Corss [see 13]. 1786 BURNS To J. Kennedy i, Mauchline corse. 1813 Corse [see 7c].
B. Signification. I. The instrument of crucifixion with its representations and fig. applications.
1. A kind of gibbet used by the ancients (and in later times by some non-Christian nations); a stake, generally with a transverse bar, on which they put to a cruel and ignominious death certain criminals, who were nailed or otherwise fastened to it by their extremities.
The general sense does not appear in Eng. so early as the specific (2), being mostly of modern occurrence in works on Ancient History: but early mention of the cross occurs also in Christian Martyrology and Saints' Lives. In the Vulgate crux is applied widely to any gibbet or gallows on which malefactors were hung, and is there also literally rendered cros, crosse by Wyclif.
a1300 Cursor M. 21533 (Cott.) He fand tua crosses [v.r. croices]. 1382 WYCLIF Gen. xl. 19 Pharao shal..honge thee in the crosse. {emem} Esther v. 15 Aman..comaundide to be maad redi an hei{ygh} cros. 1460 J. CAPGRAVE Chron. (1858) 60 Andrew was..martired on a crosse. 1483 Cath. Angl. 84 To do on Crosse, crucifigere. 1741 EARL OF HARDWICKE in Athenian Lett. (1792) II. 115 Apollonides the physician was condemned to the cross, and executed just before we left Susa. 1827 HEBER Hymn, ‘The Son of God’, Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mock'd the cross and flame. 1844 THIRLWALL Greece VIII. 205 The body of Cleomenes was flayed and hung on a cross.
2. spec. a. The particular wooden structure on which Jesus Christ suffered death, believed to have consisted of an upright post, with a horizontal crossbar; the holy rood. (Often written with capital C.)
The identical cross is believed by large bodies of Christians to have been found buried in the ground, by Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 326; hence, the legend of its finding or invention, the adoration of the fragments of it, and stories of miracles wrought by it, play an important part in the religious literature of the Middle Ages. In this connexion the word is often qualified as holy, real, true, Saint Cross. Stations, way of the Cross: see STATION, WAY. The antecedent history of this sense in English is found under the earlier name ROOD.
c1275 O.E. Misc. 48 Do a rode! do a rode! Ibid. 50 Lyht adun of {th}e croyz. c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 3/78 Huy founden roden {th}reo..{Th}o nusten huy of {th}e {th}reo {th}o holie croyz {th}at huy sou{ygh}ten {ygh}wich it mi{ygh}te beo. a1300 Cursor M. 8507 (Cott.) {Th}e croce [F., T. cros, G. crois] O ihesu crist. a1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xxi. 1 Crist..when he hyngid on {th}e crosse. c1386 CHAUCER Pard. T. 623 By the croys [so 2 MSS., 3 cros, 2 crosse] which {th}at seint Eleyne fond. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur XXI. vii, Somme men say..that kyng Arthur..shal come ageyn & he shal wynne the holy crosse. 1535 COVERDALE John xix. 19 Pilate wrote a superscripcion and set vpon the crosse. 1596 SHAKES. 1 Hen. IV, I. i. 26 Those blessed feete..nail'd on the bitter Crosse. 1685 EVELYN Diary 16 Sept., A little fragment, as was thought, of the true Crosse. 1782 PRIESTLEY Corrupt. Chr. I. IV. 387 Images..according to the form of the venerable cross. 1844 E. WARBURTON Crescent & Cross xxii. (1859) 239 The hole in the rock where the Cross stood. 1867 BP. FORBES Expl. 39 Art. xxxi. (1881) 616 On the Cross, the full satisfaction was paid.
{dag}b. by (God's) cross, as an oath. Obs.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. viii, These kny{ygh}tes are vn-curtas, by cros, and by crede! 1575 J. STILL Gammer Gurton V. ii, Else had my hens be stol'n..by Gods cross.
{dag}c. A prayer used in the adoration of the cross. Obs.
a1225 Ancr. R. 28 Seie sumne o{edh}er of {edh}e creoiz.
3. a. The sign of the cross made with the right hand, as a religious act.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 728 Heo wi{edh} Cristes cros cruchede hire ouer al. a1225 Ancr. R. 18 Makie{edh} on ower mu{th}e mit te {th}ume a creoiz. a1300 Cursor M. 18338 (Cott.) {Th}e lauerd lift hand..And on adam a croice he made. c1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 781 {Th}e childe a crosse {th}ar on made. 1548-9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Baptisme, Then he shall make a crosse upon the childes forehead and breste. 1816 SCOTT Harold V. xvii, He sign'd the cross divine. 1861 SIR H. W. BAKER Hymn, ‘'Tis done; that new and heavenly birth’ ii, 'Tis done; the Cross upon the brow Is marked for weal or sorrow now.
b. The full expression, sign of the cross, is now usual.
c1315 SHOREHAM 15 Ich signi the with signe of croys, And with the creme of hele Confermi. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur XIV. ix, He made a sygne of the crosse in his forhede. 1548-9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Baptisme, Receyue the signe of the holy Crosse. 1645 EVELYN Diary May, In the Greek Church they made the signe of the Crosse from the right hand to the left; contrary to the Latines and the Schismatic Greekes. 1857 MRS. GATTY Parables from Nat. Ser. II. (1868) 23 If it had not thundered, the peasant had not made the sign of the cross.
{dag}c. to fall on cross, a cross, [= MHG. an ein crütze vallen]: to fall cross-wise with outstretched arms, in supplication. Obs.
a1225 Ancr. R. 346 Ualle{edh} biuoren ower weoued a creoix to {th}er eor{edh}e. c1330 Arth. & Merl. 7315 Fel on croice..And seyd sir for Godes gras, Thine help.
4. a. A representation or delineation of a cross on any surface, varying in elaborateness from two lines crossing each other to an ornamental design painted, embroidered, carved, etc.; used as a sacred mark, symbol, badge, or the like.
a1225 Ancr. R. 50 {Th}e clo{edh} in ham [the windows] beo twouold: blac clo{edh}; {th}e creoiz hwit wi{edh}innen & wi{edh}uten..{Th}us bitockne{edh} hwit croiz {th}e ward of hwit chastite. a1300 Cursor M. 21678 (Cott.) O {th}at blisced lambs blod A cros was mad in signe o rode. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur XIII. xi, Therupon that sheld he made a crosse of his owne blood. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 266 Forbad also in paithment or in streit To mak ane cors quhair men {ygh}eid on thair feit. 1591 SPENSER M. Hubberd 195 In a blew jacket with a crosse of redd. 1645 EVELYN Diary 15 Feb., Shut up with broad stones, and now and then a crosse or a palme cut in them. 1700 J. JACKSON 24 Apr. in Pepys' Diary & Corr. (1879) VI. 218 His [the Pope's] slipper of crimson velvet, with a gold cross embroidered upon it. 1823 LOCKHART Anc. Sp. Ball., Dragut i, The cross upon yon banner..It is the sign of victory{em}the cross of the Maltese. 1871 MORLEY Voltaire (1886) 344 To write letters to his episcopal foe, signed with a cross and his name: ‘+ Voltaire, Capucin indigne’.
{dag}b. cross of Christ, also croscrist: the cross prefixed to the alphabet or CROSSROW; the alphabet itself as the first step in learning. Obs.
c1450 Bk. Curtasye 144 in Babees Bk. 303 This lessoun schalle {th}y maistur {th}e merke Croscrist {th}e spede in alle {th}i werke. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 290 To turne agayne to theyr A. B. C. and lerne the crosse of Chryst agayne.
c. to take ({dag}fong or nim) the cross: to accept the sign or badge of a cross in ratification of a vow, to engage in a crusade.
For the history of this see CROISE v.
c1290 Beket 7 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 106 Gilbert Bekat..him bi-{th}ou{ygh}te {th}e Croiz for-to fo In-to {th}e holie land. 1297 R. GLOUC. (1724) 346 Roberd duc of Normandye {th}e croys nom atten ende, And {ygh}arked hym wy{th} o{th}ere to {th}e holylonde to wende. c1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 226 Sir Edward toke the croice, for his fader to go. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. II. 80 Baldwyn..preached, and exhorted men to take the Crosse. 1882 FREEMAN Reign Will. Rufus I. iv. §6. 562 Bohemond took the cross, and rent up a goodly cloak into crosses for his followers.
5. A model or figure of a cross as a religious emblem, set up in the open air or within a building, worn round the neck, etc.
c1205 LAY. 31386 He lette sone arere a muchel cros and snare. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur XVII. xv, One helde a candel of waxe brennyng and the other held a crosse. 1501 Bury Wills (1850) 88, I bequeth to the parson of Berkhamstede a Seynt Antony crosse. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. II. 801 The Byshops delivered to the king..the Ball with the Crosse in his left hande. 1648 Ord. 29 Aug. in Scobell Acts & Ord. (1658) I. cxviii. 175 Worshippers of Images, Crosses, Crucifixes, or Reliques. 1878 EDITH THOMPSON Hist. Eng. iii. 16 At..Heavenfield..Oswald set up a wooden cross{em}the first Christian sign reared in Bernicia.
6. A staff surmounted by the figure of a cross, borne in religious processions, and esp. as an emblem of office before an archbishop.
c1290 Beket 1848 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 159 Seint Thomas..to Caunterburi him drou{ygh}..With croyz and with taperes {th}e contreie a-{ygh}ein him drou{ygh}. 1460 J. CAPGRAVE Chron. 134 Prelatis, with here crosses and croses. c1465 Eng. Chron. (Camden 1856) 94 Thomas Bourchier archebysshop of Caunterbury..wythe hys crosse before hym, went forthe..toward Londoun. 1568 GRAFTON Chron. II. 75 A great contention arose..whether the Archebishop of Yorke might beare his Crosse in the Diocesse of Cauntorbury or no. 1645 EVELYN Diary 11 Apr., Some of the religious orders and fraternities sung..the lights and crosses going before. 1814 SCOTT Ld. of Isles II. xxii, With many a torch-bearer before, And many a cross behind. 1849 ROCK Ch. of Fathers II. 232 An archbishop is seen figured leaning on the staff of his cross.
7. a. A monument in the form of a cross, or having a cross upon it, erected in places of resort, at crossways, etc., for devotional purposes, or as a devout or solemn memorial of some event, as a grave-stone, and the like.
Often also serving to indicate a preaching or meeting place, and qualified as market-, preaching-, weeping-cross, for which see these words.
c1420 Sir Amadace xxx, Quen he come sex mile the citè fro, A crosse partut the way a-toe. 1470-85 MALORY Arthur IV. v, He..rode longe in a forest tyll they came to a crosse, and there aly{ygh}t and sayd his prayers deuoutely. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 677 Into Stanemure ane cors of stane wes set, Quhair the merchis of thir tua kingis met. 1596 SHAKES. Merch. V. V. i. 31 She doth stray about By holy crosses where she kneeles and prayes For happy wedlocke houres. 1643 EVELYN Diary Nov., In the way were faire crosses of stone carv'd with fleurs de lys at every furlong's end. 1851 D. WILSON Preh. Ann. II. IV. iv. 283 Memorial crosses, graven with inscriptions in the Northern Runes.
b. spec. The monument of this kind occupying a central position in a town or village, formerly used as a centre for markets, meetings, proclamations, etc.; a market-cross.
c1465 Eng. Chron. (Camden 1856) 75 [Bp. Pocock] vtterly abiured, reuoked, and renounced the sayde articles opynly at Powles Crosse. 1553 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 80 The xix. day of [July]..was proclamyd lady Ma[ry to] be qwene of Ynglond at the crose in Cheppe. 1554 Chron. Q. Mary (Camden 1850) 78 Ther preched at Poles crosse one doctour Watson. 1596 SHAKES. Tam. Shr. I. i. 137 To be whipt at the hie crosse euerie morning. 1611 COTGR. s.v. Sing, Thou hast not cried it at the crosse. 1702 Lond. Gaz. 3869/3 The Mayor and all the Company went..to the two Crosses, where Bonfires were prepared. 1786 BURNS To J. Kennedy i, If foot or horse E'er bring you in by Mauchline Corse. 1829 SCOTT Rob Roy Introd., Birrell..reports that he was hanged at the Cross. 1848 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. I. 480 The newly elected members went in state to the City Cross.
c. A market-place, market. Now only local.
1577 HARRISON England II. xviii. (1877) I. 298 They begin to sell..by the bushell or two..therby to be seene to keepe the crosse. 1587 Ibid. 300 The crosses sufficientlie furnished of all things. 1724 RAMSAY Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 61 When ye gae to the cross then..Buy me a pacing horse then. 1813 PICKEN Poems I. 906 (Jam.) The cadies rang'd about the Corse For messages ay ready.
8. fig. Used as the ensign and symbol of Christianity; the Christian religion, esp. when opposed to other religions. (In later use it becomes more fig., as in messenger, preacher, servant of the cross: cf. next.)
soldier, warrior of the Cross: a crusader; hence fig. one actively zealous for the advancement of Christianity.
c1325 Poem Times Edw. II, 249 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 334 Hii sholde gon to the Holi Lond..And fihte there for the croiz. 1593 SHAKES. Rich. II, IV. i. 94 Streaming the Ensigne of the Christian Crosse, Against black Pagans, Turkes, and Saracens. 1659 B. HARRIS Parival's Iron Age 81 Let us now take leave of the Countries, of the Half Moon..and return..into those of the Crosse. 1756-7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) II. 199 Constantine, in acknowledgment of his signal victory obtained by the cross, was baptized on this spot. 1812 BYRON Ch. Har. I. xxxv, Red gleam'd the cross, and waned the crescent pale. 1830 J. B. WATERBURY Hymn, Soldiers of the Cross, arise. 1892 Q. Rev. Jan. 61 A Sufi..is, by profession, tolerant or even sympathetic in the presence of the Cross.
9. fig. The crucifixion and death of Christ as the culmination of His redemptive mission, and the central fact of the Christian religion; the atonement wrought on the cross.
c1380 WYCLIF Wks. (1880) 45 By {th}yn holy crois {th}u hast a{ygh}en bou{ygh}t {th}e world. 1382 {emem} 1 Cor. i. 18 For the word of the cros is folye sothli to men perischinge. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, Litany, By thy crosse and passion..Good lorde deliuer us. 1603 Const. & Canons Eccles. No. 30. 1611 BIBLE 1 Cor. i. 18 The preaching of the Crosse. 1782 COWPER Progr. Err. 622 The Cross once seen is death to every vice. 1845 G. A. POOLE Churches iv. 27 The doctrine of the cross, as the one great rule and hope of the world. 1891 T. MOZLEY The Son xxxvii. 232 Rome, which insists more on the cross than on the divine character, the divine life, and the divine teaching.
10. a. A trial or affliction viewed in its Christian aspect, to be borne for Christ's sake with Christian patience; often in phr. to bear, take one's cross, with reference to Matt. x. 38, xvi. 24, etc.
1382 WYCLIF Matt. x. 38 He that takith nat his crosse, and sueth me, is not worthi of me. 1528 TINDALE Obed. Chr. Man Doctr. Treat. (Parker Soc.) 310 Mark what a cross God suffered to fall on the neck of his elect Jacob. 1550 CROWLEY Last Trump 62 Though thou shouldest perishe for fode, yet beare thou thy crosse patientlie. 1644-5 Direct. Publ. Prayer in Scobell Acts & Ord. (1658) I. li. 79 To pray for..the sanctified use of blessings and crosses. 1669 PENN (title), No Cross no Crown; a Discourse shewing..that the..daily bearing of Christ's Cross, is the alone way to the rest and kingdom of God. 1779 COWPER Olney Hymns xxviii, We learn our lighter cross to bear. 1920 A. HUXLEY Limbo 184 You must try and be strong and bear it bravely. We all have our cross to bear. 1963 A. HERON Towards Quaker View of Sex iv. 40 They must practise self-denial and ‘bear their cross’.
b. In a general sense: A trouble, vexation, annoyance; misfortune, adversity; sometimes (under the influence of the verb) anything that thwarts or crosses. Cf. sense 27.
1573 TUSSER Husb. (1878) 17 To banish house of blasphemie, least crosses crosse vnluckelie. 1580 SIDNEY (J.), Wishing unto me many crosses and mischances in my love, whensoever I should love. 1614 BP. HALL Recoll. Treat. 120 Crosses, after the nature of the Cockatrice, die if they be forseene. 1649 {emem} Cases Consc. (1650) 224 Camillus..wished some great crosse might befall Rome for the tempering of so high a felicity. 1693 Mem. Cnt. Teckely IV. 10 If it has met with some Crosses of Fortune, it is not in a danger for all that to be overthrown. 1712 ARBUTHNOT John Bull III. x, After all his losses and crosses. 1853 C. BRONTË Villette xxxvii, Doubtless they knew crosses, disappointments, difficulties. 1866 MRS. H. WOOD St. Martin's Eve iii. (1874) 19 Her usual crosses had been but light ones, which she scolded or talked away.
II. Any figure or object of this shape.
11. a. Any object, figure, or mark of the same shape as the instrument of crucifixion, i.e. of two bars or lines crossing each other, used as a sign, ornament, etc. {dag}cross in the hands: a finger-post.
For the various kinds of crosses, see sense 18.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 294 Wi{th} an hoot iren make a cros upon {th}e middil of {th}e passioun as depe as {th}e deed fleisch is. 1547 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 161 Euerye howseholder..whych..hath bein vysyted with the plage.. shall cause to be fyxed..a certein Crosse of saynt Anthonye devysed for that purpose, etc. 1563 FULKE Meteors (1640) 45 Raynebowes..crosses, and divers lights..by divers refractions and reflections of beames. 1626 BACON Sylva §494 They make a little Cross of a Quill. 1643 EVELYN Diary 24 Dec., The body of the Church formes a Crosse. 1762 FOOTE Orator 1, A cross in the hands, with letters to direct you on your road. 1771 {emem} Maid of B. 1, Pushing forth his fingers like a cross in the hands to point out the different roads on a common. 1776 WITHERING Brit. Plants (1796) I. 296, 4 petals, forming a cross. 1828 Jane Seaton ix. (ed. 2) 61 Her only ornament, a golden chain with a Cornelian Cross attached to it.
b. A similar mark or sign of small size used to mark a passage in a book, etc.; a mark made, in place of his signature, by one who cannot write.
In the latter case originally belonging to 4.
c1391 CHAUCER Astrol. I. §5 The whiche lyne, from a lityl croys + in the bordure vn-to the centre of the large hole. 1562 J. HEYWOOD Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 36 Now will I make a crosse on this gate. 1588 J. MELLIS Briefe Instr. Fijb, In the margent..yee shall set a crosse + which signifieth the error to rectify in the proper place. 1687 W. SHERWIN in Magd. Coll. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) 225 Charnock..crossed all their names. They..struck off their crosses. 1853 LYTTON My Novel V. ix, He sate..with his steel-pen in his hand, and making crosses here and notes of interrogation there.
c. A natural cross-shaped marking.
1824 T. BEWICK Hist. Quadrupeds (ed. 8) 239 It has the Mule-cross on the withers like most of the Barbary Caracals. 1855 WOOD Anim. Life (ed. 2) 420 There is also a black mark running along the spine, and another crossing the shoulders, the two forming a cross.
12. A constellation within the Antarctic Circle, in which four bright stars are arranged somewhat in the figure of a cross; more fully Southern Cross.
1555 EDEN Decades 239 The starres cauled the Crosse, are seene very hyghe. Ibid. 253. 1594 BLUNDEVIL Exerc. IV. xix. (ed. 7) 473 There are lately found out..foure other Images towards the South Pole, as the Crosse or Crosier, the South Triangle. 1671 NARBOROUGH Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. (1711) 48 A small black Cloud, which the foot of the Cross is in. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 353 We saw again the Northern Star to our great Joy; till then we had only the Southern Cross in sight. 1868 LOCKYER Heavens (ed. 3) 333 The Southern cross{em}the pole-star of the South. 1892 R. KIPLING Barrack-room Ballads, Eng. Flag ix, Where the lone wave fills with fire beneath the Southern Cross.
13. Formerly in Scotland: A signal (app. orig. a cross formed of two sticks charred and dipped in blood) sent through the district to summon the inhabitants: see CROSTARIE, FIRE or FIERY CROSS.
1615 Act Bailiary in Barry Orkney (1805) App. 458 (Jam.) Ilk house and family shall carefully and diligently direct the corss..to his next neighbours, with ane sufficient bearer, for admonishing the people..to conveen. 1848 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. (1871) I. v. 269 The mysterious cross of yew, first set on fire, and then quenched in the blood of a goat, was sent forth to summon all the Campbells, from sixteen to sixty.
14. a. A part of an anchor, hinge, or other object, which occupies a position transverse to the main part. {dag}b. The cross-piece dividing the blade of a sword, etc. from the hilt, and serving as a guard to the hand; the cross-guard. Obs.
1470-85 MALORY Arthur IX. xxxix, Kynge Marke..kneled adoune and made his othe vpon the crosse of the suerd. c1477 CAXTON Jason 102b, His swerde..into the paunche of the dragon up to the crosse. 1590 SIR J. SMYTH Disc. Weapons 4 Short arming Daggers of convenient forme and substance, without hilts, or with little short crosses. 1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 18 When the Joint..on the Tail, is pind in the Joint..in the Cross, the whole Hinge is called a Cross-Garnet. 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4570/4 Lost..a piece of Anchor, being the Cross and a peice of the Shank.
{dag}15. The transept or cross aisle of a cruciform church. Obs.
1658 DUGDALE St. Paul's 160 And afterwards bestowed four thousands pounds in repairing of the South Cross. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3804/2 The House of Commons were seated..in the North Cross of the Abbey.
16. A surveyor's instrument; a CROSS-STAFF.
1669 STURMY Mariner's Mag. II. xiii. 81 Taking off one of the Crosses, and setting the Staff again. 1807 HUTTON Course Math. II. 56 The cross consists of two pair of sights set at right angles to each other, on a staff having a sharp point at the bottom, to fix in the ground.
17. Horse-breaking. A ‘dumb jockey’ shaped like the letter X, buckled across the back of a young horse, and having the reins of the snaffle bridle fastened to it, to make him carry his head properly.
1833 Reg. Instr. Cavalry I. 74 In order to bring the horse to..carry his head properly..the cross may be used.
III. In Heraldry, Insignia of Knighthood, Numismatics, etc.
18. a. Her., etc. A conventional representation of the Christian symbol, or some modification of it, or of two crossing bars, used as an ordinary or charge, as an ornamental figure in art, etc.
Numerous modifications of the form are recognized, some of them being used as religious symbols; the chief forms are Celtic cross: see CELTIC a. 2; Greek cross, an upright cross with limbs of equal length; Latin cross, in which the lower limb is longer than the others; St. Andrew's cross, or cross saltier, a cross shaped like the letter {Chi}; cross of St. Anthony or tau cross, in which the transverse bar lies on the top of the upright, like the letter {Tau}. Developments of these are the cross patée or formée, in which the limbs are very narrow where they are conjoined, and gradually expand, the whole forming nearly a square; Maltese cross, cross of Malta or cross of eight points, a modification of the preceding, in which the extremity of each limb is indented. Subordinate forms are cross crossed, a cross with each arm crossed, reaching the edges of the shield; cross of chains, a cross composed of four chains fixed to a central annulet; cross of four leaves: see QUATREFOIL; cross of Jerusalem, a cross having each arm capped by a cross-bar; cross of Lorraine, a cross with two horizontal arms, combining the Greek and Latin crosses; cross of St. Andrew: see above; spec. the saltier-cross of Scotland, white on a blue ground; cross of St. George, the Greek cross, red on a white ground, as used on the English flag; cross of St. James, a Latin cross figured as a sword; cross of St. Julian, a saltier cross having the arms crossed; cross of St. Patrick, the saltier cross of Ireland, red on a white ground; cross of Toulouse, a Maltese cross with a point projecting from each indentation; Buddhist cross, the gammadion or fylfot, {swast}; capital cross, a Greek cross having each extremity terminated in an ornament like a Tuscan capital; Capuchin cross, a cross having each arm terminated by a ball or disc; ANSATE c., CABLED c., cross BEZANTY, FLORY, etc.: see these words.
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. Biijb, Cros fixyly, Cros paty Cros croslettis and Cros flory. Ibid. Cja, The cros is the moost worthi signe emong al signys in armys. 1610 J. GUILLIM Heraldry IV. i. (1660) 270 Called a Crosse-Avellane, from the resemblance it hath of a Philbert Nut. 1615 CROOKE Body of Man 350 [They] doe mutually intersect themselues in the manner of a Saint Andrewes crosse, or this letter X. 1654 Ord. in Scobell Acts & Ord. II. ix. (1658) 294 The Arms of Scotland, viz. a Cross, commonly called Saint Andrews Cross. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3840/2 A Flag with St. George's Cross was displaied on the Tower. 1797 HOLCROFT Stolberg's Trav. (ed. 2) II. xlvi. 114 The long cross..has been called the Latin cross. 1844 F. A. PALEY Church Restorers 15 A cross pattée between four lions combatant. 1882 CUSSANS Her. iv. 59 No Ordinary is subject to so many modifications of form as the Cross. Ibid. 60 Gwillim mentions thirty-nine different Crosses..and Robson no less than two-hundred and twenty-two.
b. per or in cross (Her.): in the form or figure of a cross.
1562 LEIGH Armorie (1579) 78 He beareth party per Crosse wauey Sable, and Argent. 1572 J. BOSSEWELL Armorie II. 37b, Verte, fiue fermaulx in Crosse. 1610 J. GUILLIM Heraldry V. i. (1611) 238 He beareth parted per Crosse Gules and Argent.
19. A figure of the cross used as the ensign of a religious order of knights, as the Knights of Malta; hence widely adopted as a decoration in many orders of knighthood; also, a wearer of such a cross.
Grand ({dag}Great) Cross: a decoration of the highest class of such an order, or the person wearing it. Victoria Cross: a British decoration for members of the Army and Navy, instituted Feb. 5th, 1856, as a reward for personal valour.
1651 EVELYN Diary 7 Sept., Crosses of the Order of the Holy Ghost. Ibid., The Chevalier Paul..his Malta Cross was esteem'd at 10,000 crounes. 1796 MORSE Amer. Geog. II. 444 Out of the 16 great crosses, the great master [of Knights of St. John] is elected. 1855 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. IV. 261 This prince had set his heart on some childish distinction, a title or a cross. 1887 Daily News 16 July 5/3 He is a Grand Cross of St. Vladimir. 1889 Whitaker's Alm. 97 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath..Military Knights Grand Cross. Ibid. 98 Civil Knights Grand Cross..Honorary Knights Grand Cross.
{dag}20. Numism. The figure of a cross stamped upon one side of a coin; hence, a coin bearing this representation; a coin generally. Obs.
c1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 239 Edward did smyte rounde peny, halfpeny, ferthyng..{Th}e kynges side salle be {th}e hede & his name writen. {Th}e croyce side what cite it was in coyned & smyten. a1420 HOCCLEVE De Reg. Princ. 685 The feende, men seyne, may hoppe in a pouche, Whan that no crosse therein may appeare. 1530 PALSGR. 211/1, Crosse of coyne, la croix d'une piece d'argent. 1594 NASHE Unfort. Trav. Wks. 1883-4 V. 34 His purse was..I thinke verily a puritane, for it kept it selfe from anie pollution of crosses. 1638 HEYWOOD Wise Woman I. i. Wks. 1874 V. 281 Ile play the Franck gamester..I will not leave my selfe one Crosse to blesse me. 1667 DRYDEN Wild Gallant I. ii, I have not a cross at present. 1766 GOLDSM. Vic. W. xxi, She has been here a fortnight, and we have not yet seen the cross of her money. Ibid., To come and take up an honest house, without cross or coin to bless yourself with. 1797 Sporting Mag. IX. 312 Neither a bun to put in their belly, nor a cross to put in their pockets.
21. cross and (or) pile [F. croix et (ou) pile]. a. The obverse and (or) reverse side of a coin; head or tail; hence sometimes standing for: a coin, money. arch.
1393 [see CROUCH n.1]. 1584 R. SCOT Discov. Witchcr. XIII. xxx. 277 How to know whether one cast crosse or pile by the ringing. 1618 FLETCHER Chances V. ii, Compel'd with crosse and pile to run of errands. 1698 SIDNEY Disc. Govt. iii. §30 (1704) 362 He had neither cross nor pile. 1718 J. CHAMBERLAYNE Relig. Philos. I. xvi. §16 If an equal Number of Pieces of Money were thrown up into the Air, the Chance of their falling Cross or Pile..would be equal. a1856 LONGFELLOW Friar Lubin ii, To mingle..The goods of others with his own, And leave you without cross or pile.
{dag}b. fig. The two sides of anything; one thing and its opposite. Obs.
c1450 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 240 Crosse and pyle standen in balaunce; Trowthe and resoun be no thynge stronge. a1613 OVERBURY Newes, Countrey Newes Wks. (1856) 175 That good and ill is the crosse and pile in the ayme of life. 1663 COWLEY Cut. Colman St. v, I knew well enough 'twas you; what did you think I knew not Cross from Pile?
{dag}c. ‘Head or tail’, i.e. ‘tossing up’ to decide a stake, or anything doubtful, by the side of a coin which falls uppermost; ‘pitch and toss’; fig. a matter of mere chance, a ‘toss-up’. (Usually with cast, throw, toss.) Obs.
[a1327 Wardrobe Rolls Edw. II (Antiq. Repository II. 58), Item paie illoq a Henri Barber le Roi pour Denrs qu il a presta au Roi pur Jewer a cros a Pil de Donn v s.] 1597 1st Pt. Return fr. Parnass. II. i. 768 Schoolmaister, cross or pile nowe for 4 counters? c1645 Vox Turturis 23 They had a Custome, when buyer and seller could not agree, to..cast crosse and pile. 1672 WYCHERLEY Love in a Wood III. ii, I'll throw up cross or pile who shall ask her. 1685 Answ. to Dk. Buckhm. on Liberty of Consc. 36 Thirdly, whether it be not Cross and Pile, whether a man who may be of any and of all Religions, will be of any, or of none at all? 1709 STEELE Tatler No. 39 {page}48 There will be no fear of foul Play, if they throw up Cross or Pile who should be shot. 1798 T. JEFFERSON Writ. IV. 227 The question of war and peace depends now on a toss of cross and pile.
{dag}d. fig. Pitch and toss. Obs.
1571 HANMER Chron. Irel. (1633) 134 Safer to sit, then upon an Irish Pillion that playeth cross and pile with the rider.
{dag}e. advb. phr. By mere chance. Obs.
1648 HERRICK Hesper., Crosse and Pile, Faire and foule days trip crosse and pile; the faire Far lesse in number then our foule dayes are. a1712 W. KING Poems, Stumbling Block 50 The sceptics hypothetic cause..That cross or pile refin'd the chaos.
IV. Senses derived from CROSS a., v., adv.
{dag}22. a. A crossing or crossed position: hence the advb. phrase, on cross, o cross, a cross = crossed, crossing, crosswise: see ACROSS, CROSS adv. Obs.
a1300 Cursor M. 21693 (Cott.) He heild his hend on croice [Edin. MSS. o croice]. 1551 RECORDE Pathw. Knowl. I. xxviii, From those ij. prickes erect two perpendiculars, which muste needes meet in crosse. 1555 EDEN Decades 351 They [stars of the S. Cross] are not ryght a croise in the mooneth of Nouember. 1642 Disput. betw. Devill & Pope (Brand), A taylor must not sit with legs on crosse. 1659 B. HARRIS Parival's Iron Age 54 The King..stood not with his arms a crosse.
b. on the cross: diagonally, obliquely across the texture, on the bias. (Cf. BIAS n. 1.)
1872 Young Englishwoman Nov. 594/1 Bows of dark blue velvet cut on the cross. 1887 [BARING-GOULD] Golden Feather iv. 9 The piece of carnation velvet cut on the cross for trimming Jessamy's bonnet. 1955 ‘C. BROWN’ Lost Girls x. 107 The skirt was cut on the cross. 1968 J. IRONSIDE Fashion Alphabet 79 Garments cut on the cross or bias have ‘give’ as the bias is stretchy.
c. Theatr. A movement from one part of the stage to another in acting.
1838 Actors by Daylight I. 214 He was..well versed in all the crosses and recrosses necessary to impose on the million. 1896 G. B. SHAW Our Theatres in Nineties (1932) II. 129 At the end of each of his first vehement speeches, he strode right down the stage and across to the prompt side of the proscenium on the frankest barnstorming principles, repeating this absurd ‘cross’{em}a well-known convention of the booth for catching applause{em}three times.
d. Boxing. A blow that crosses over the opponent's lead. Also transf.
1906 E. DYSON Fact'ry 'Ands xvii. 233 Ther revolvin' arm..got home a left lead 'n 'er right cross. 1938 D. RUNYON Take it Easy 26 What she lays on his brow is a beautiful straight right cross. 1950 J. DEMPSEY Championship Fighting xxii. 144 The right cross, deadliest of all counter~punches, is used when a left-jabber becomes careless.
e. Assoc. Football. A cross-pass.
1961 Times 29 Sept. 4/3 They quickly turned the screw, with three goals{em}by Pointer, side-footing in Douglas's cross. 1962 Times 12 Mar. 3/2 Greaves failed to stroke home one of his crosses. 1968 Listener 23 May 682/1 For a high cross a well-trained full-back..is good enough{em}though not for the kind of calculated low cross George Best engineered for Billy Foulkes's decisive goal against Real Madrid.
{dag}23. Cross-measurement. Obs. rare.
1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commonw. 132 The Crosse of London is every way longer, than any you make in Paris..By this word Crosse, I meane, from Saint Georges in Southwark, to Shoreditch, South and North; and from Westminster to Whitechapell West and East.
24. The point where two lines or paths cross each other; a crossing, cross-way.
1546 BP. GARDINER Decl. Art. Joye xv, I..do the offyce of an hande, at a crosse, to saye this is the ryght waye. 1891 G. MEREDITH One of our Conq. II. xii. 287 To drive two vessels at the cross of a track into collision.
25. Electr. The accidental contact of two lines or circuits so that a portion of the electric current is diverted or crosses from one to the other.
1870 F. L. POPE Electr. Tel. v. (1872) 63 The effects of weather crosses usually manifest themselves upon the occurrence of a shower.
26. The writing or marking by which a cheque is crossed.
1876 Ann. Reg. [51] The cross on the cheque did not restrain its negotiability.
27. fig. A crossing or thwarting: cf. also 10b.
1599 SHAKES. Much Ado II. ii. 4 Any barre, any crosse, any impediment, will be medicinable to me..How canst thou crosse this marriage? 1621-51 BURTON Anat. Mel. I. iii. I. ii. 187 If crossed, that cross, etc. 1873 DIXON Two Queens IV. XIX. vii. 40 Anne was suffering from a cross in love.
28. a. An intermixture of breeds or races in the production of an animal; an instance of cross-fertilization in plants.
1766 PENNANT Zool. (1768) I. 18 Improved by a cross with the foreign kind. 1819 BYRON Juan I. lviii, This heathenish cross restored the breed again. 1859 All Year Round No. 29. 58 The Bakewell..sheep..is..a creature from a series of judicious crosses of divers long-woolled breeds.
b. An animal or plant, or a breed or race, due to crossing.
1760 Phil. Trans. LI. 834 The bird..is an accidental cross, as we sportsmen term it, between a pheasant and turkey. 1834 MEDWIN Angler in Wales I. 253 This little feather-legged bantam..is certainly a cross from the grouse. 1868 Perthshire Jrnl. 18 June, The large stock of black cattle and crosses. 1871 G. H. NAPHEYS Prev. & Cure Dis. I. i. 47 The mulatto, a cross between it [the black race] and the white race.
c. fig. An instance of the mixture of the characteristics of two different individuals; something intermediate in character between two things.
c1796 MISS CRANSTOUN in Lockhart Scott vii, Walter Scott is going to turn out a poet{em}something of a cross I think between Burns and Gray. 1852 R. S. SURTEES Sponge's Sp. Tour xxii. 112 [He] was a cross between a military dandy and a squire. 1891 FREEMAN Sk. French Trav. 125 The west front, a cross between Wells and Holyrood.
29. slang. That which is not fair and ‘square’: dishonest or fraudulent practices.
a cross: a contest or match lost by collusory arrangement between the principals; a swindle. on the cross: in a dishonest, fraudulent manner; to be or go on the cross: to be a thief, live by stealing. to shake the cross: to give up thieving.
1802 Sessions' Paper June 334/2, I got it on..the cross. 1812 J. H. VAUX Flash Dict., Cross, illegal or dishonest practises in general are called the cross, in opposition to the square..Any article which has been irregularly obtained, is said to have been got upon the cross. 1829 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 21/1 It was decided that it should be a decided ‘cross’.{em}That is, it was decided beforehand that the match was to be lost. 1848 THACKERAY Van. Fair lv, A conversation..about the fight between the Butcher and the Pet, and the probabilities that it was a cross. 1861 H. KINGSLEY Ravenshoe lx, The young woman..may be on the cross. 1878 Tinsley's Mag. XXIII. 300 Never to act on the square, but invariably on the cross. 1883 ‘MARK TWAIN’ Life on Mississippi lii, If I would shake the cross and live on the square for three months. 1889 BOLDREWOOD Robbery under Arms xii. (1890) 85 It's the hardest earned money of all, that's got on the cross. 1915 A. CONAN DOYLE Valley of Fear II. iii. 201 It's mum with me so long as I see you living on the straight..But, by gum, if you get off on the cross after this it's another story. 1917 {emem} His Last Bow viii. 293 There's a stool pigeon or a cross somewhere, and it's up to you to find out where it is.
V. Elliptical uses.
{dag}30. Short for CROSS-SAIL, a square-sail. Obs.
1513 DOUGLAS Æneis IV. viii. 21 Marynaris glaid layis thair schippis onder cros. Ibid. V. xiv. 3 Heis heich the cros.
31. Irish Hist. = CROSS-LAND.
1612 DAVIES Why Ireland etc. (1787) 107 The King's writ did not run in those counties..but only in the church-lands lying within the same, which were called the Cross, wherein the King made a sheriff: and so, in each of these counties palatine there were two sheriffs, one of the Liberty, and another of the Cross. 1879 J. R. O'FLANAGAN Munster Circuit 3 They could hear and determine all complaints throughout the province of Munster, and the crosses and liberties of Tipperary and Kerry.
VI. Comb. See CROSS- I. below.
― danski (danski), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 17:33 (nineteen years ago)
Also:
gallows, n.
1. An apparatus for inflicting the punishment of death by hanging, usually consisting of two uprights and a cross-piece, from which the criminal is suspended by the neck. Sometimes used as equivalent to CROSS. See CROSS n. 1.
In OE. the sing. gal{asg}a and the pl. gal{asg}an are both used for ‘a gallows’, the pl. having reference presumably to the two posts of which the apparatus mainly consisted. Occasional examples of the sing. form occur in ME., and even down to the 17th c.; but from the 13th c. onwards the plural galwes and its later phonetic representatives have been the prevailing forms. So far as our material shows, Caxton is the first writer to speak of ‘a gallows’, though he also uses the older expression ‘a pair of gallows’; but it is, of course, possible that the pl. form was sometimes treated as a sing. much earlier. From the 16th c. gallows has been (exc. arch. in ‘pair of gallows’) used as a sing., with a new plural gallowses; the latter, though perh. not strictly obsolete, is now seldom used; the formation is felt to be somewhat uncouth, so that the use of the word in the plural is commonly evaded.
{alpha} Beowulf (Z.) 2446 Swa bi{edh} {asg}eomor-lic gomelum ceorle to {asg}ebidanne, {th}æt his byre ride {asg}iong on gal{asg}an. a1000 Juliana 482 Sume ic rode befealh {th}æt hi..on hean gal{asg}an lif aletan. c1000 ÆLFRIC Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 116/19 Patibulum, gal{asg}a. 1483 Cath. Angl. 149/1 A Galowe, furca. 1535 COVERDALE Esther v. 14 Let them make a galowe of fiftye cubites hie. 1561 T. NORTON Calvin's Inst. Calvin's Pref., Worthy of a thousand fires and gallowes. 1567 DRANT Horace, Ep. xvi. Fj, With gyues, and fetters Ile tame the vnder a galow dyre. 1681 W. ROBERTSON Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 1014 Do you look I should..praise you, who deserved the Gallow so lately?
{beta} c1300 Havelok 1161 Thou shal to the galwes renne. c1330 R. BRUNNE Chron. (1810) 172 Galwes do {ygh}e reise, and hyng {th}is cheitefe. a1400-50 Alexander 1813 And for {th}aire souerayne sake {th}am send to {th}e galawis. 1480 CAXTON Chron. Eng. ccxliv. (1482) 305 There was made a newe payre of galewes and a strong cheyne and a coler of yren for hym. c1489 {emem} Blanchardyn xlviii. 187 He shold doo make and to be sette vp a galhouse. 1549 Compl. Scotl. xii. 102 Tua speyris..stude vp fra the eyrd lyik ane gallus. 1589 Marprel. Epit. Civ, The theefe on the gallowes was saued without them. 1600 SHAKES. A.Y.L. III. ii. 345 Who doth he [Time] gallop withal?.. With a theefe to the gallowes. a1627 HAYWARD Edw. VI (1630) 64 He took the maior aside and..required of him that a paire of gallowes should be framed and erected. 1689 WOOD Life 19 Dec. (O.H.S.) III. 318 A gallowes being erected before Temple gate. 1756-7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 409 Two ladders are placed against the gallows. 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midl. vii, ‘Why do you trifle away time in making a gallows?{em}that dyester's pole is good enough for the homicide.’ 1855 MILMAN Lat. Chr. XIV. vii. (1864) IX. 222 In the older versions the now ignoble words ‘hanging and the gallows’ were used instead of the Crucifixion and the Cross.
{gamma} 1562 TURNER Herbal II. 46a, Mandrag..groweth not vnder gallosses. 1673 [R. LEIGH] Transp. Reh. 108 Make bonfires of the gallowses, set open all the prisons. 1775 J. SULLIVAN in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) I. 72 That all our liberty-poles will soon be converted into gallowses. 1801 HELEN M. WILLIAMS Sk. Fr. Rep. I. xvii. 209 Previous to this epocha, gallowses had been erected at Naples.
2. a. The punishment itself.
1483 CAXTON Cato Avij, His fader..bought him ageyn fro the galowes and fro dyshonest dethe. 1522 MORE De quat. Noviss. Wks. (1557) 82 His galowes & death standeth within .x. mile at ye farthest, & yours within .lxxx. a1533 FRITH Disput. Purg. (1533) Gvb, When we say that such a man hath delyuered his freende from the gallowes, we mean not that he was all ready hanged. 1603 SHAKES. Meas. for M. I. ii. 84 What with the sweat, what with the gallowes, and what with pouerty, I am Custom-shrunke. 1730 in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 251 Into their secular hands the poor authors must be delivered to..pillories, whippings, and the gallows. 1836 HOR. SMITH Tin Trump. (1876) 174 Gallows{em}a cure without being a prevention of crime. 1881 BESANT & RICE Chapl. of Fleet I. 48 The gallows did not terrify these evil-doers.
b. to have the gallows in one's face: to have the look of one predestined to or deserving the gallows.
1610 SHAKES. Temp. I. i. 32 This fellow..hath no drowning marke vpon him; his complexion is perfect Gallowes. 1710 PALMER Proverbs 114 The gallows is almost as visible in their face as their nose: as is often to be seen in a thoro'pac'd villain. 1768 GOLDSM. Good-n. Man v. (Globe) 637/1 Hold him fast, the dog; he has the gallows in his face. 1835 MARRYAT Jac. Faithf. viii, ‘There's gallows marked in his face’, observed another.
c. Proverbs.
13.. Sir Beues (A.) 1217 Deliure a {th}ef fro {th}e galwe, He {th}e hate{th} after be alle halwe! 1484 CAXTON Fables of Æsop I. x, Yf ye kepe a man fro the galhows he shalle neuer loue yow after. 1583 GOLDING Calvin on Deut. li. 307 Saue a theefe from the gallowes and hee will helpe to hang thee. 1592 GREENE Disput. 3 He that feares the Gallowes shal neuer be good theefe. 1593 NASHE Christ's T. Pref. Ep., Saue a thief from the gallows, and hee'le be the first to shew the way to Saint Gilesesse.
3. One deserving the gallows; a gallows-bird.
1588 SHAKES. L.L.L. V. ii. 12 He hath beene fiue thousand yeeres a Boy. I, and a shrewd vnhappy gallowes too. 1611 BEAUM. & FL. Knt. Burn Pestle I. iii, Though he be a notable gallows, yet I'll assure you his master did turn him away. 1749 B. MARTIN Eng. Dict., Gallows, a wicked rascal. 1838 DICKENS O. Twist xi, ‘Now, young gallows!’ This was an invitation for Oliver to enter through a door..which led into a stone cell.
{dag}4. Used to render L. furcæ. a. = FORK 5b. b. Gallows of Caudium = Caudine Forks: see FORK 14. Obs.
1565-73 COOPER Thesaurus, Abire sub iugum..to passe or go vnder the gallies. 1618 [see FORK 5b (a)].
5. Applied to various objects consisting of two or more supports and a cross-piece. {dag}a. An iron support for a pot over a kitchen fire. Cf. GALLOWSBALK. Obs.
1512 Will in Southwell Visit. (1891) 116, I bequeth to the chauntrye priest..oon paire of galoes of yrne. 1576 Inv. in Ripon Ch. Acts (Surtees) 378 A paire of iron gallows.
b. Naut. (See quot. 1867.)
1769 FALCONER Dict. Marine (1789) Ddiijb, Their [booms'] after-ends are usually sustained by a frame called the gallows. 1867 SMYTH Sailor's Word-bk., Gallows, the cross~pieces on the small bitts at the main and fore hatch-ways in flush-decked vessels, for stowing away the booms and spars over the boats.
{dag}c. Printing. ‘A frame used for supporting the tympans of the old wooden presses when turned up’ (Jacobi). Obs.
1683 MOXON Mech. Exerc. II. 328 One Press-man..will Beat so soon as he has laid the Tympan on the Gallows after Pulling. 1808 C. STOWER Printer's Gram. 506* Fig. 8 is the gallows, in which the frame A, B, B is screwed to the front of the carriage, between the joints of the tympan. 1833 J. HOLLAND Manuf. Metal II. 210 The gallows for the tympans is also removed.
d. A gymnastic apparatus.
1817 SOUTHEY Jrnl. in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. IV. 268 Others were swinging in such attitudes as they liked from a gallows. 1827 ARNOLD Let. in Stanley Life & Corr. (1844) I. 72 When..I could no more..hang on a gallows, nor climb a pole.
e. A part of a plough (see quot. 1842).
1840 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. I. III. 219 An old Berkshire plough (with a high gallows in front). 1842 JOHNSON Farmer's Encycl., Gallows of a plough, a part of the plough-head, so named by farmers, from its resemblance to the common gallows. It consists of three pieces of timber, of which one is placed transversely over the heads of the other two.
f. (See quots.)
1866 M. A. BARKER Station Life in New Zeal. x. 64 The ‘gallows’, a high wooden frame from which the carcases of the butchered sheep dangle. 1883 GRESLEY Gloss. Coal Mining, Gallows, a crown-tree with a prop placed underneath each end of it. 1883 Hampshire Gloss., Gallows, a frame formed by fixing four poles, two and two, in the ground, crossed X wise, and laying another pole across, against which planks or boards are set when sawn out, to dry. 1883 Standard 7 Sept. 5/3 They attacked..the carcases on the ‘meat gallows’. 1890 BOLDREWOOD Col. Reformer (1891) 350 The ‘gallows’ of the colonists, a rough, rude contrivance consisting of two uprights and a crosspiece for elevating slaughtered cattle.
6. ‘Suspenders’ for trousers; braces. Now dial., Sc. and U.S., in the form gallowses, whence occas. gallows for a single brace. Freq. in the form gallus in the U.S.
So galgen in Swiss German; also Du. (vulgar).
1730-6 BAILEY (fol.), Gallowses, contrivances made of cloth, and hooks and eyes, worn over the shoulders by men to keep their breeches up. 1813 SOUTHEY Lett. (1856) LV. 530 note, He..used to have books, pen, ink and paper, breeches, gallowses, neck cloth, and rolls and butter, all upon the breakfast table at the same time. 1827 SIR J. BARRINGTON Pers. Sk. II. 50 The ball appeared to have hit the buckle of his gallows (yclept suspenders) by which it had been impeded. 1830 R. WARNER Lit. Recoll. I. 100 His under-clothes unsupported by those indispensable articles of decent attire denominated gallows. 1837 HALIBURTON Clockm. Ser. I. xv. 141 Chock full of spring like the wire eend of a bran new pair of trowser gallusses. 1868 WAUGH Sneck-Bant ii. 38 His breeches wur nobbut fastened wi' one gallace. 1884 J. RENTON in Mod. Scott. Poets Ser. VII. 51 My gallowses baith strang and guid. 1888 Sheffield Gloss., Gallaces, braces for the trousers. 1896 CROCKETT Cleg Kelly xiv. 104 The tattered trousers with one ‘gallus’ displayed across the blue shirt. 1932 W. FAULKNER Light in August xviii. 404 Even if I dont wear no tin star on my galluses. 1932 E. CALDWELL Tobacco Road xiv. 166 He stepped into his overalls, put one arm through a gallus. 1942 O. NASH Good Intentions 145 To supply each of my pairs of pants with its own set of galluses. 1957 R. A. HEINLEIN Door into Summer (1967) iii. 51 Oh, I'm a gallus-snapper when I get started; you should see me wear women's hats at parties.
7. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 1) gallows {dag}-knowe (= knoll), -maker, -pin, -rope; gallows-ward adv.; (sense 2) gallows-free adj., gallows-worthy adj. and n.; (sense 2b) gallows-mark; (sense 5) gallows-frame, -timber; (sense 6) gallows-buttons.
1836-54 BYWATER Sheffield Dial. 162 ‘Thah mah breik all the *gallos buttons off.’ 1881 RAYMOND Mining Gloss., *Gallows-frame, a frame over a shaft, carrying the pulleys for the hoisting cables. 1681 DRYDEN Abs. & Achit. II. 431 Let him be *gallows-free by my consent. 1864 A. MCKAY Hist. Kilmarnock (1880) 342 They were led from the town to suffer punishment at the *gallows-knowe. 1602 SHAKES. Ham. V. i. 49 Clo. What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter? Other. The *Gallowesmaker; for that Frame outliues a thousand Tenants. 1767 BUSH Hibernia Cur. (1769) 7 A fellow..with a *gallows-mark upon his face. c1750 Mary Hamilton in Child Ballads (1889) III. 125 To see the face of his Molly fair Hanging on the *gallows pin. 1839 CARLYLE Chartism iii. 121 Scramble along..with thy..plebeian *gallows-ropes. 1859 DICKENS T. Two Cities I. v, Foreheads knitted into the likeness of the gallows-rope. 1851 GREENWELL Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh. 28 *Gallows Timber, a crown-tree, with a prop placed under each end. a1895 STEVENSON Weir of Hermiston iii. (1896) 49 The man..was hunted *gallowsward with jeers. 1819 Sporting Mag. III. 214 Many respectable..sinners, deliberately..commit *gallows-worthy crimes. 1828 Ibid. XXI. 226 The master..attended by one of those gallows-worthies.
8. Special comb.: gallows-apple slang (to make gallows-apples of = to hang); gallows-bitts = 5b; {dag}gallow-breed Sc. = GALLOWS-BIRD; gallows-brood, a number of young gallows-birds: see GALLOWS-BIRD; gallows-climber, one doomed to climb the ladder at the gallows, i.e. to be hanged; gallows-face, one who bears the mark of the gallows in his face (cf. 2b); hence gallows-faced adj.; gallows-foot, the space immediately in front of the gallows; {dag}gallow-fork = GALLOWS-TREE; gallows-gate dial. (see quot.); gallow-lea, a level place on which the gallows was erected; gallows-humour, grim, ironical humour; ‘sick’ humour; cf. GALGENHUMOR; gallows-locks, hair that hangs like gallows ropes; gallows-ripe a., ready to be hanged; gallows-rounded a., (of hair) cut round like that of a condemned criminal; gallows-sockets, Printing (see quot.); gallows-stanchions = 5b; {dag}gallows-strings, a term of reproach (cf. hang-string); gallows-tool (see quot. and cf. sense 5); gallows-top = 5b.
1830 LYTTON P. Clifford III. vii. 126 They're resolved to make *gallows apples of all such Numprels (Nonpareils) as you. 1815 Falconer's Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), *Gallows-bits, on flush-decks, a strong frame of oak about eight inches square, made in the form of a gallows, and fixed at the fore and main hatchway, to support the spare top-masts, yards, booms, boats, etc. 1508 DUNBAR Flyting w. Kennedie 141 Lyk to ane *gallow breid, Ramand, and rolpand, beggand koy and ox. 1831 SCOTT Diary 8 Jan. in Lockhart, A little *gallows-brood they were and their fate will catch it. 1668 DAVENANT Man's the Master III. i, Pattern of rogues! thou *gallows climber! 1724 RAMSAY Gent. Sheph. IV. i, I crave your pardon, *gallows-face!’ 1769 H. BROOKE Fool of Qual. IV. xvii. 67 Art thou there, thou rogue, thou hang~dog, thou *gallows-faced vagabond? 1818 SCOTT Hrt. Midl. iv, And had just cruppen to the *gallows-foot to see the hanging. a1225 Ancr. R. 174 Touward {th}e waritreo [v.r. *galheforke] of helle. 1893 Wiltsh. Gloss., *Gallows-gate, a light gate, consisting only of a hinged style, top-rail and one strut. 1901 W. D. HOWELLS in North Amer. Rev. Nov. 710 The honors are not quite so easy in the matter of *gallows-humor. 1935 Archit. Rev. LXXVII. 31/1 These may not be altogether unintentional touches of what the Germans call ‘gallows-humour’. 1958 Times 17 July 4/3 The explosive vitality, full-blooded sentiment, and gallows humour that pervade the play. 1582-8 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 135 Thair was interchange of thir twa maid with consent of all pairties at the *gallowlee betuix Edinburghe and Leith. 1828 SCOTT F.M. Perth iii, Thou must be bold, Henry; and bear thyself not as if thou wert going to the gallow-lee. 1809 W. IRVING Knickerb. (1812) II. 79 His hair hung in straight *gallows locks about his ears. 1837 CARLYLE Fr. Rev. II. V. iii. 270 Jourdan himself remains unhanged; gets loose again as one not yet *gallows-ripe. 1567 DRANT Horace, Ep. xix. Fvij, What though one..Should Cato counterfeate..in his *gallowes rounded hayre. 1841 W. SAVAGE Art Print. 249 *Gallows Sockets. Two pieces of wood with square mortises in them, to receive the ends of the gallows; they are nailed or screwed upon the plank behind the tympans. 1675 COTTON Scoffer Scoft 86, I, hang him, little *Gallow-strings, He does a thousand of these things. 1884 F. J. BRITTEN Watch & Clockm. 110 *Gallows Tool, a tool in which a pinion is placed by clockmakers when the leaves on bottoms are to be filed.
― danski (danski), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 17:38 (nineteen years ago)