Forms: 5 quynz(i)eme, -zyeme, -sym(e, quinzeme, -zi(s)me, -zyme, 5–6 quinsime, 6 -siem, -ziesme, 7 -siesme, 8 -zieme, 9 -zième. [a. AF. quinzisme, -zime, -zieme (mod.F. quinzième), ordinal f. quinze fifteen: cf. QUINDECIM. In sense 3 substituted for quinseine QUINZAINE.]
1. A tax or duty of a fifteenth. Now only Hist.
1429. Rolls Parlt., IV. 336/2. Graunt to you our … Lord the Kyng … an hole Quinszisme, and an hole Disme.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xii. (1885), 140. When the reaume gaff to thair kyng a quinsime and a desime quinqueniale.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., clviii. 140. A quinzeme of goodes were graunted for the newe chartres.
1559. in Strype, Ann. Ref. (1824), I. II. App. viii. 427. The clergie chardged with quinsiems and other payements.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1633), 145. Incident acquisitions, bee they rents customes tenths quinziesmes taxes [etc.].
1777. Ann. Reg., II. 41. The clergy had compounded for a tax called the quinzieme or fifteenth penny.
1891. Q. Rev., Oct., 111. It paid the highest quinzième of any port except London.
† 2. The fifteenth (= fourteenth) day after a church festival; = QUINDENE. Obs.
1433. Rolls Parlt., IV. 420/2. Bytwix this and the Quinszisme of Seint Michell next.
c. 1450. Merlin, 374. This was the quynsyme after Pentecoste.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxvi. 232. At his parlement holden at Westmynstre the quynzeme of Paske.
† 3. A period of fifteen days; spec. the day of a church festival and the two weeks following. Obs.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. x. (1869), 146. I selle it bi dayes and bi wookes, bi vtases and bi quinzimes, bi monethes, and bi yeeres al hol.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., lxiii. 47. Tho two bretheren of Constance shall come byfore a quynzieme passed.
