Also virgin-wax; 5–8 virgin’s wax. [trans. med.L. cera virginea: cf. VIRGIN 17 b and 11. So F. cire-vierge.] Orig., fresh, new or unused bees-wax, sometimes that produced by the first swarm of bees; in later and more general use, a purified or fine quality of wax, esp. as used in the making of candles; white wax.
α. 13[?]. K. Alis., 334 (Linc. MS.). After, he tok virgyn wax, And made a popet after þe quene.
a. 1400. Sqr. lowe Degre, 688. She sered that body with specery, With wyrgin waxe and commendry.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 30. Þan putte to a litle oyle of olyue,… wiþ als miche virgine wax togidre dissolued at þe fire by it self.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 510/2. Vyrgyne wex, cera virginea.
1502. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 37. Payit to Robert Bertoune for virgyne wax that he brocht hame to the King.
1538. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 55. The Herse to be garnyshed with xxx other great Tapers with ij Branches of Virgyn waxes.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., 57. An excellent cement for broken glasses. Take one part of Virgin-wax [etc.].
1626. T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 9. He hath imprinted all his perfections vpon our Sauiour … as one should impresse a golden seale vpon virgin-waxe.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 33. They say, the young King’s picture was found in her closet in virgin-wax.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 310. Like Virgin-Wax, he soft’ned the hard Bone, And wrought it till to female shape ’twas grown.
1795. W. Blake, Lett. (1906), 54. Take a cake of virgin wax … and stroke it … over the surface of a warm plate.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vi. Besides lesser lights, the withdrawing-room was illuminated by four tall torches of virgin wax.
1861. Hulme, trans. Moquin-Tandon, II. III. ccix. Wax which has been completely deprived of its colour is called virgin or white wax.
fig. a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xii. (1912), 229. You use vile Vulcans spight … to melt that Virgin-waxe, Which while it is, it is all Asias light.
attrib. 1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. (Grosart), V. 256. The most intenerate Virgine wax phisnomy.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. viii. 223. The convoy presently departed, leaving him … with a Virgin-waxe-light, in a golden Candlestick.
β. 1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XIX. lxi. 897. The more newe wexe is the more able it is to take inpressyon and pryntynge of dyuers fygures and shapes, and suche wex is callyd vyrgyns wexe.
1535. Wardr. Kath. Arragon, 41, in Camden Misc., III. Item, seevyn hoolle tapers of vyrgyn’s waxe.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 37. Cerfolie … being wrought & tempered with Virgins Waxe, remedieth all kinde of swelling.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 39. The purest virgins wax.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 915. Simple and natural Wax is the thicker part of the combs that contains the honey; and it is either virgins wax, or of a second sort; virgins wax is that the younger swarms of Bees make from the young branches of flowers. (That is the first Swarm put into a new Hive.)
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., x. 76. Slender Tapers of white Wax (commonly called Virgins Wax).
1736. Bailey, Househ. Dict., s.v. Eye-salve, Take one ounce of May butter, hall an ounce of virgins wax [etc.].
