Obs. or Hist. Forms: 4–6 creme, 4–5 creyme, crayme, 4–6 crem, 5–7 creame, 5 creym, 6 kreme, chreame, 6–7 cream. [ME. creme, a. OF. cresme, later creme masc., now chrême = Pr. cresma fem.:—L. chrisma: see CHRISM and next word. In ME. the form crisme was used alongside of this; and since the 16th c. CHRISM has become the accepted form.] The consecrated oil used in anointing; = CHRISM.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9495. Holy bapteme, Houe of watyr, and noytede wyþ creme.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 13. That hi beethe eke atte fount Mid oylle and creyme alyned.
1340. Ayenb., 93. Huanne he is ysmered myd þise holy crayme.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 71. Creme scholde be blissede in the churche every yere. Ibid., VI. 159. The noyntynge of holy creame [sacri chrismatis, Trevisa crisme].
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 273. Item whether the kreme and oyle be newe, and euery yere newe halowyd.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 675. A box of creame and oyle.
1563. Becon, Reliques of Rome, Wks. 383. The byshop must annoynt them with chrisme, commonly called, creame.
a. 1602. W. Perkins, Cases Consc. (1619), 320. Popish consecration of salt, creame … and such like.
1642. J. Taylor (Water P.), Mad Fashions. To Baptize with Cream, with Salt and Spittle.
1883. trans. Campan’s Mary Antoinette, 160. Some consecrated oil, called holy cream.
b. Comb. cream-, creme-box, creme-stock, a receptacle for the chrism, a chrismatory.
1450. in Maitland Club Misc., III. 203. Ane crem stok of siluer.
1565. in Peacock, Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866), 106. Item one creme box broken and defaced.
