[SONG sb. Cf. MDu. sanc-, zancboec, MLG. sankbôk, Du. (ge)zangboek, G. gesangbuch, Sw. sångbok, ON. söngbók, etc.]
1. One of the service-books of the Anglo-Saxon church (see quots. 1853).
c. 1000. Canons of Ælfric, xxi. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 350. Þæt synd þa halʓan bec, saltere,… & mæsse boc, sang-boc, & hand boc.
c. 1000. in Kemble, Cod. Diplom., IV. 275. .II. fulle sangbec and .I. nihtsang.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 31 Aug. 1654. A vast old song book or service, and some faire manuscripts [at St. John’s College, Cambridge].
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. II. xi. 18. Out of the Antiphoner … came forth the full song-book or whole service for the canonical hours. Ibid., 20. The song-book corresponded with the Salisbury portous and the Roman breviary.
2. A book of songs.
1489. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 114. To Wilȝeam Sangstare of Lythqow for a sang bwke he brocht to the King.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 372. As if her eyes had beene his song-Booke, he did the message of his minde in singing these verses.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xiv. (1674), 157. Apollo … received his Song-book with … extraordinary affection.
1683. W. Lloyd, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 187. I have besides a Welsh Song-book.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlix. The little table where the Captain had arranged the telescope and song-book.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 298/1. The sale of song-books in the streets … is smaller than it was two years ago.
