Obs. Also bysp, bissp, bysb. [A phonetically contracted form of biscop, BISHOP, in early ME.: cf. mod.Da. bisp with ON. biskup, Sw. biskop; also Pg. bispo.] = BISHOP.
a. 1300. Passion Our Lord, 76, in O. E. Misc., 39. Þe byspes and þe maystres hi were swiþe wroth. Ibid., 471. Þe bispes of þe Gywes seyden Pilatus to. [Biscop occurs in sing. in this poem.]
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 114. Thurstan sent his sond, tille a bissp [printed bissh] sauuage, Rauf of Orkeney.
Hence Bispriche, -ryche = BISHOPRIC.
a. 1300. Shires & Hundr., in O. E. Misc., 145. Þis bispryche wes hwylen two bispriche. [Biscopryche also occurs.]
