Forms: 1 biscop, -sceop, -scep, 2–3 biscop, 3–6 bischop, 4–5 bisshop, 3– bishop. Also 1 biscob, 2 bish-, bisshup, 2–3 biscopp, bisscop, -kop, 2–4 (s. e.) bissop, 3 byssop, 3–7 bishoppe, 4 bisschop(e, -oppe, bi(s)shope, -opp, -up, busschop, 4–5 byschop, 4–6 bisch-, bisshopp, busshop, bysshop, bishope, -opp, 4–7 byshop, 5 bis-, byschope, -oppe, -upp, -yp, buschop(e, 5–6 bysch-, bysshopp, -ope, -oppe, 6 bischoipp, biszhop, -oppe, bushopp(e, byshe-, bys-, bysshopp(e, 6–7 bisshope, bushop, 7 biship, busschope. [OE. biscop (also in North. biscob), bisceop, biscep, an early adopted word (cf. OS. biskop, MDu. bisscop, Du. bisschop), OHG. biscof, piscof (MHG., mod.G. bischof), ON. biskup (Sw. biscop, Da. bisp), a. Romanic *biscopo or vulgar L. (e)biscopus:—L. episcopus, a. ἐπίσκοπος overlooker, overseer, f. ἐπί on + -σκοπος looking, σκοπός watcher; used in Greek, and to some extent also in Latin, both in the general sense, and as the title of various civil officers; with the rise of Christianity it gradually received a specific sense in the Church, with which it passed into Slavonic, Teutonic and Celtic. With the form biscopo, biscobo, which passed into Teutonic, cf. also It. vescovo, OF. vesque, Pg. bispo, Pr. vesque, bisbe. Cf. BISP.]
1. A spiritual superintendent or overseer in the Christian Church.
a. Used in the New Testament versions to render the Gr. word ἐπίσκοπος, applied to certain officers in early Christian churches, either as a descriptive term, or as their actual title. In Wyclif, the Rhemish, and Revised Versions, the Gr. word is so rendered in every instance; but in the other versions from Tindale to 1611, it is in Acts xx. 28 (where applied to the πρεσβύτεροι or ‘elders’ of Ephesus) rendered ‘overseers.’ Also applied to Christ, as descriptive of his office. (Sometimes applied by those who do not recognize the episcopal order, to their pastor or chief elder, but only as a descriptive term, or as identifying his office with that of the New Testament ‘bishop.’)
1382. Wyclif, Acts xx. 28. Al the folk in which the Hooly Gost sette ȝou bischopis. [Tindale oversears, Cranmer ouersears, Geneva Ouersears, Rhem. bishops, 1611 ouerseers, 1881 bishops (marg. or overseers).] Ibid., 1 Peter ii. 25. Ȝe ben conuertid now to the sheperde and bischop of ȝoure soulis [1881 the Shepherd and Bishop (marg. or Overseer) of your souls]. Ibid. (c. 1383), Sel. Wks., III. 310. Crist veriest bischop of alle.
1535. Coverdale, Phil. i. 1. Paul & Timotheus … vnto all the sayntes … with the Biszhoppes & mynisters.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., vii. 130. The Holy Ghost hath made them Bishops or Over-seers.
1868. Lightfoot, Philippians, 93. It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the Church is called indifferently ‘bishop’ ἐπίσκοπος and ‘elder’ or ‘presbyter’ πρεσβύτερος.
b. spec. In the Eastern, Western, Anglican, and other churches of episcopal order: A clergyman consecrated for the spiritual government and direction of a ‘diocese,’ ranking beneath an archbishop (where these exist) and above the priests or presbyters, and deacons. (This is the sense in which the word passed with Christianity into all the Teutonic langs., and thus the earliest sense in English.)
Bishop in partibus (infidelium) in R. C. Ch., one dignified with the title of a bishopric, whose district or diocese is in the possession of infidels or heretics; originally applied to those expelled from the Holy Land by the Saracens.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. (Hatton MS.), 1. Ælfred kyning hateð gretan Wærferð biscep.
1121. O. E. Chron., 984 (Laud MS.). Her forðferde se halʓa biscop Aðelwold.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 237. Archebiscopes . and biscopes.
1297. R. Glouc., 376. He huld … Byssopes & abbotes to hys wylle echon.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks., 417. Bischops … shulden not amersy pore men.
1473. Warkw., Chron., 3. The Kyng put oute of the Chauncelerschepp the Bysshope of Excetre.
1548. Patten, Exped. Scotl., Arb., Garner, III. 68. That venemous aspis … the Bishop of Rome.
c. 1600. Norden, Spec. Brit. (1728), 32. Former times afforded Cornwall a peculiar Bushop.
1641. Smectymnuus, Vind. Answ., § 16. 208. King James of blessed memory said, no Bishop, no King: it was not he, but others that added, No Ceremony, no Bishop.
1738. Bolingbroke, On Parties, 170. Another Man wears … Lawn Sleeves, and sits in a purple Elbow-Chair, to denote that he is a Bishop.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Bishop, By the canon law, a bishop in partibus is qualified hereby to be a coadjutor of another bishop.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. iv. 133. These ministers [of religion] were at first confined to the three orders of bishops, priests, and deacons.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., I. 529. James lived to furnish the nearest approach to a bishop to be found in the Apostolic age.
† 2. transf. Formerly applied to: A chief priest of any religion; e.g., a chief priest or High Priest of the Jews, a Roman pontiff (‘high’ or ‘principal bishop’ = pontifex maximus), Mohammedan Caliph, etc. Obs.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. iv. § 1. Lucinius Crassus … wæs eac Romana ieldesta biscep.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xv. 11. Ða biscobas ðonne ʓeegedon ðone ðreat.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1022. Te biscopp sellf Wiþþ blod … þær shollde cumenn.
1382. Wyclif, Mark xv. 11. Forsothe the bischopis stireden the cumpenye of peple, that more he schulde leeue to hem Barabas.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, 49. At that tyme byschop was isakar In the temple.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 57. Now am I set to kepe … Byschope Jettyr shepe.
1541. Paynell, Catiline, xvii. 24 b. P. Scipio, the hyghe bysshope … slewe Tiberius Gracchus.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., 597. The caliphaes of the Sarasins were chiefe bishops in their religion.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXII. ix. 437 e. The Colledge of the Bishops or Prelates [pontificum].
1615. Bedwell, Arab. Trudg. Sultan, The Byshop of Egypt is called the Souldan.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 101. Suppositious children, bishops pull’d From the foule lake.
† 3. As a literalism of translation:
a. Overlooker, inspector, watchman.
1592. Andrewes, 96 Serm., v. (1843), 516. No pinnacle so high but the devil is a bishop over it, to visit and overlook it.
b. for L. episcopus in its most common civil sense of: Superintendent or overseer of the public victualling. [Cf. Charisius in Roman Digest, ‘Episcopi qui præsunt pani et ceteris venalibus rebus quæ civitatum populis ad quotidianum victum usui sunt.’]
1808. Month. Mag., XXVI. 109. They gave away corn, not cash; and Cicero was made bishop, or overseer, of this public victualling.
4. Applied ludicrously to the chief of the company in the ‘Festival of Fools.’ Cf. the Boy Bishop of St. Nicholas Day: Brande, Pop. Antiq., I. 232.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., IV. iii. (1810), 303.
5. One of the pieces in the game of chess, having its upper part carved into the shape of a mitre; formerly called archer, and in still earlier times alfin or aufyn.
1562. Rowbotham in Archaeol., XXIV. 203. The Bishoppes some name Alphins, some fooles, and some name them Princes; other some call them Archers.
1581. Sidney, Def. Poesie (1622), 520. Giuing a peece of wood the reuerend title of a Bishop.
1656. F. Beale, Chesse-play, 2. A Bishop or Archer, who is commonly figured with his head cloven.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., IV. ii. (1810), 275. The alfin was also denominated … with us an archer, and at last a bishop.
6. ‘The little spotted beetle commonly called the Lady-cow or Lady-bird.’ Ray, S. & E. Country Wds., 1674.
1875. Parish, Sussex Dial., s.v., ‘Bishop, Bishop-Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding shall be; If it be tomorrow day, Ope your wings and fly away.
† 7. (See quot.) Obs.
1611. Florio, Fungo … that firy round in a burning candle called the Bishop.
8. A sweet drink variously compounded, the chief ingredients being wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port.
1738. Swift, Wom. who cry Oranges, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 278. Well roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup, They’ll make a sweet bishop.
1790. Boswell, Johnson (1831), I. 235. A bowl of that liquor called bishop, which Johnson had always liked.
1801. Coleridge, Poems, II. 169. Spicy bishop, drink divine.
1834. Campbell, Life Mrs. Siddons, II. viii. 191. Unacquainted with the language of taverns, Miss Burney made her King exclaim, in an early scene, ‘Bring in the Bishop!’ and the summons filled the audience with as much hilarity as if they had drank of the exhilarating liquor.
9. Articles of attire: a. A bustle (U.S.). b. A smock or all-round pinafore worn by children (north. dial.).
a. 1860. The Bustle (Bartlett). I sing the bishop, alias the bustle.
a. 1860. Saxe, Progress (Bartlett). If, by her bishop, or her ‘grace’ alone, A genuine lady or a church is known.
1874. E. Waugh, in Lanc. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Here; tak him, an wesh him; an’ put him a clen bishop on.
10. Comb., as bishop-coadjutor, -commissioner, -seat, -see; Bishops’ Bible, the version of the Bible published in 1568 under the direction of Abp. Parker; Bishop’s court, an ecclesiastical court held in the cathedral of a diocese; bishop-designate (see quot.); bishop-elect, a bishop elected, but not yet consecrated; bishop’s length (Painting), a certain size of canvas.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 375/1. The instructions … were, that they should adhere to the *Bishops’ Bible.
1883. Manch. Guardian, 18 Oct., 4/6. The representative clergy and laity … assembled in conference … under the presidency of *Bishop-coadjutor Ryan.
1751. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., *Bishop-designed (designatus) denoted a coadjutor of a bishop, who in virtue of his office is to succeed at the incumbent’s death.
1883. Freeman, in Longm. Mag., II. 488. The *Bishop Designate is one who has simply received a letter from the Prime Minister, which as yet makes no difference whatever in his actual legal or ecclesiastical position.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. ii. 86. The two *bishops-elect gave satisfaction.
c. 1870. Winsor & Newton’s Advt., Bishop’s 1/2 length, 4 ft. 8 in. by 3 ft. 8 in.; whole length, 7 ft. 10 in. by 4 ft. 10 in.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 248. Þe olde chartres & titles … Of ilk a *bisshopse & ilk a priourie.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, I. 18. He appointed fourteen Cities … for *Bishops-sees.
b. Plant-names: bishop’s-cap, the genus Mitella or Mitre-wort; bishop’s elder = bishop-weed; bishop’s-hat, Epimedium alpinum; bishop’s-leaves, Water Figwort (Scrophularia aquatica); bishop’s weed, bishop-weed, a name for the genus AMMI; also Ægopodium; bishop(’s wort, Wood Betony, Stachys betonica; also Devil-in-a-bush, Nigella damascena.
1839. Longf., Voices of Nt., Prel. viii. When … *Bishops-caps have golden rings.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, II. ccxliv. 715. Called in English Water Betonie, in Yorkeshire *Bishops leaves.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb., I. Table, Ameos, Comin royal, is a Herb of some called Bulwort, *Bishops-weed, or Herb-william.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 26. Order Umbelliferæ…. (Common Gout-weed, or Bishop’s-weed).
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 2. Betonica þæt is *biscopwyrt.
c. 1450. Roy. MS. 18 A. vi. f. 68, in Promp. Parv., 34, note. [Betony] also clepyd *byschuppyswort.
1863. Prior, Plant-n., 23. *Bishop’s-wort … is now … applied to the Devil-in-a-Bush.
Hence Bishopful a. (cf. worshipful, masterful). † Bishopist, an adherent of episcopacy. Bishopless a., without bishops. Bishoplet, -ling, a little or petty bishop. Bishopship, the office or dignity of a bishop. † Bishopwick = BISHOPRIC.
1866. Neale, Seq. & Hymns, 116. O ye, His chosen servants, in bishopful array.
1590. J. Davidson, Repl. Bancroft, in Wodr. Soc. Misc., 516. This sort of the generation of Bishopists.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 569 (D.). Landaff … lay Bishopless for three years.
1838. Fraser’s Mag., XVIII. 546. The doctor was totally ignorant of this custom, ours being a bishopless land.
1878. All Y. Round, 9 Nov., 449. What a bishoplet it must have been that presided there.
1570. Levins, Manip., 141. Byshopship, episcopatus.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., iii. Wks. (1851), 110. The superiority of Bishopship.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1857), I. II. I. vii. 258. The abolition of Most-Christian Kingship and Most-Talleyrand Bishopship.
1570. Levins, Manip., 121. Bishopwick, diocesis.
