Orig. Our Lady day. [f. LADY sb. 3 (genitive: see the etymological note on the word).] A day kept in celebration of some event in the life of the Virgin Mary. Now only March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation; formerly also Dec. 8th, the Conception of the Virgin, Sept. 8th, the Nativity, and Aug. 15th, the Assumption.
1297. [see LADY sb. 3 b].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17288 + 65. On our laidy day als-soo, Þe syn was first wroght.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 37. It happed that oure lady day felle on the sonday.
c. 1450. Merlin, 120. This was on oure lady day in septembre.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 2. Then was a grete wynter of frost and colde that lastyd from new-yeres daye unto our lady day the Annunciacion.
1578. Scotter Manor Roll (N. W. Linc. Gloss.), Euery one shall take vppe ther tuppes or rammes before the first ladie daye.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Dame, L’assumption notre Dame, Our Ladie day in Haruest.
1665. Wood, Life, 15 May. Rent which was due the last Our Lady day.
1888. M. Arnold, in 19th Cent., Jan., 27. On Lady Day he [Shelley] was summoned before the authorities of his College.
