Forms: 3–7 cerge, 3–6 serge, 4 serg; also 4–6, 9 cierge, (3 cirge, 5 cyerge, suerge, 6 surge, searge, cearge). [a. OF. cerge, cirge (12th c.), cierge (13th c.), in Pr. ceri, Sp. cirio:—L. cēreus (later cērius) of wax, waxen, f. cēra wax. The typical Eng. form was cerge, serge; but in actual use the word went out about 1600, and occurs since either as a historical archaism or consciously as French.] A wax candle or taper, esp. a large wax candle used in religious ceremonies.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20701. Gas þan … Wit cirges and wit candel-bright Þat ye haf no defaut of light.
c. 1300. Havelok, 594. Also lith was it þer-inne, So þer brenden cerges inne. Ibid., 2125. So þer brenden serges seuene.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6251. The elevene thousand maydens deere, That beren in heven her ciergis clere.
c. 1400. Apol. Lollards, 48. Kirks are not to be worschipped, nor sergs to be multiplied þer in.
1485. Will, in Ripon Ch. Acts, 278. v serges, ilkoone of a pownde of wax.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. ix. 103. The blesand torchys schayn and sergis brycht.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, II. xl. A solemne procession With crosses and baners and surges clere lyght.
1570. Levins, Manip., 210. A cearge, caereus.
1593. Mon. & Rites Ch. Durham (1842), 12. Lattin basons … havinge pricks for serges, or great wax candles, to stand on.
1843. Mrs. Romer, Rhone, &c. II. 69. The cierges were lighted, and a splendid mass in music performed.
b. Comb., as cierge-bearer.
c. 1450. Wr.-Wülcker, 682. Hic ceroferarius, a cerg-berare.
