north. Obs. Also 6–7 sirpe-, syrpe-, 6–8 sirp- (6 serp-, syrpt(e)-, 7 sirpt-, sirpluth); see also CLOTH, CLOTHES. (Alteration of SURPLICE by substitution of cloth for the second half of the word.] A surplice.
1525. Churchw. Acc. St. Michael, Spurriergate, York. Payd for a syrpe clothe mendyng ij d. ob.
1557. Richmond Wills (Surtees), 97. Item I gyffe unto Sir John Dyxson my surpclothe.
1557–75. Diurn. Occur. (Bannatyne Cl.), 104. And als assistit with rockattis and huidis, the bischope of Ross, the pryour of Quhitherne, and sindrie vthers with serpclaithes and huidis.
1596. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 271. To Roberte Waytsones wyfe for washyng the syrpte cloys.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 110. A Church-man … his Syrpe-cloth … discarded quite Resoluing fully now to be a Knight.
1665. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 219. For weshing the sirpluths, 8 s. Ibid. (1698), 261. For altering the clerk’s surpcloth, 1 s.
1778. Finghall Churchw. Acc. (MS.) For mending Sirpcloth, 9d.
