Forms: 4 chemer, chemeyr, 4, 6 chimmer, 5–7 chymer, 5–8 chymere, 6 chymmer, chymour, shemer, chammer, chamarre, 6–7 chimer, 9 chimar, 7– chimere. [The same word as OF. chamarre (mod.F. simarre) ‘a loose and light gowne’ (Cotgr.). Diez mentions Sp. chamarra, zamarra, -o, sheepskin, Sard. acciamarra white sheepskin coat, It. zimarra, Pr. samarra, of uncertain origin. In med.(Anglo-)L. chimēra, chimæra, whence perh. the Eng. form, or vice versa.]
A loose upper robe. a. esp. That worn by a bishop, to which the lawn sleeves are attached.
‘Which before and after the Reformation, till Queen Elizabeth’s time, was always of scarlet silk; but Bishop Hooper scrupling first at the robe itself, and then at the colour of it, as too light and gay for the episcopal gravity, it was changed for a Chimere of black satin’ (Wheatly, Common Prayer (1819), 104).
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 580. The gude bischop … A chemeyr [v.r. chemer, chimmer] for till heill his veid, Aboue his armyng had. Ibid., 601. With that he kest of his Chemer.
c. 1430. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 2nd Prol. 30. His chymeris wes of chambelote purpour broun.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1050. Hys vpper garmente was a long Shemer [ed. 1583 Chymere] downe to the foote, and vnder that a whyte lynnen rochet. Ibid. (1596), 295/2. Their [priests’] chimmers and scappillers which they weare.
a. 1586. Maitland Poems (1786), 188 (Jam.). Thair hudes, thair chymours, thair garnysings.
1634. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 273. Their black chimere, or sleeveless coat, put upon the fine white rochet.
1633. Sc. Act Chas. I. (1817), V. 21 (Jam.). A chymer … to be worne over thair whytes at the tyme of thair consecratioun.
1679. Oldham, Satires on Jesuits (1854), 131. Albs, ammits, rochets, chimers, hoods, and cowls.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xvi. 199. Grindal, the new Bp. of London, preached at St. Paul’s Cross, in his rochet and chimere.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 71. His upper garment was a long scarlet Chymere.
1883. Bp. Fraser, in Standard, 20 Jan., 3/6. The chimere is properly a kind of cope with apertures for the arms to pass through.
b. As worn by others: variously explained.
[1380. Acts New College, Oxford, Rubr. 23. Quod Custos, Socii et scholares … capis, chimeris, et tabardis longis et talaribus … superius induantur.]
a. 1500. Metr. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 629. Est interula, braccæ, camisia, toga, et iupa, [glossed] smokke, brechys, schyrt, gowne, a chymere.
1530. Palsgr., 558/2. Your sworde freateth the plyghtes of your chymer [chammare]. Ibid., 637/1. Put of this chymmer, it mysbecometh you. Ibid., 674/1. Wyll you put on your chamarre to daye?
a. 1850. Mrs. Browning, Poems, II. 304. This purple chimar which we wear.
