Obs. exc. Hist. or arch. Forms: α. 5–6 standisshe, 6 -ys(s)he, (-yche), 6–7 standishe, 8–9 stand-dish, 6– standish. β. (7 standage, -ege, 8 standidge.) [Commonly believed to be f. STAND v. + DISH sb.; but evidence is wanting for such a use of dish as would account for the assumed combination.] A stand containing ink, pens and other writing materials and accessories (see quots.); an inkstand; also, an inkpot.
α. 1474–5. in Swayne, Sarum Church-w. Acc. (1896), 17. Et in j quartari paupiri & in j standisshe viij d.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 131. Standisshes with weightes and scales iij.
1590. Lodge, Euphues Gold. Leg., ¶ 2. Reaching to her standish, she tooke penne and paper, and wrote a letter.
1607. Beaumont, Woman-Hater, V. i. Secretary, fetch … the standish I answer French Letters with.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xiv. (Roxb.), 20/1. This fashion of Horne … is now converted into Lead, and hath the denomination of a standish: or of tyn and soe haue both Inke place, sand box, candlestick and a long box to lay wax, pens and knife in: all fixt togather, yet all but a standish.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. 249. Away went the dear girl … carrying down with her my standish, and all its furniture, and a little parcel of pens beside.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 361. His … writing-table … was contrived … with a square hole for the standish to drop into and not spill the ink.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, x. He wanted pen, ink, and paper. There was an old standish on the high mantel shelf containing a dusty apology for all three.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. x. Pouring out his flame and his passion … pacing the room … twisting and breaking into bits the wax out of the stand-dish.
1864. Athenæum, 11 June, 801. When the veteran,… is about to lay his pen to rest in the standish.
β. 1605. Tryall Chev., V. i. in Bullen, Old Pl. (1884), III. 340. The incke that’s in the standage doth looke blacke.
1609. Louth Rec. (1891), 156. Item for a pewter standege for the Chamber iij s. iiij d.
1772. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., I. 138. A Leathern Standidge.
¶ b. (See quot.)
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xi. 120. A Glass Pipe for his Tobacco, and an embroider’d Standish for it to stand in.
