Surplice

Forms: 3–7 surplis, 4–6 surples, -plys, 4–7 -plesse, -plise, (4 surplees, 5 sarplys, serples, sorplise, sourples, suplice; sorplers, solepers, sullipers), 5–6 surplyse, -plese, (6 sorplys, syrplys, -plis, -plasse, -pleys, surplyce, -plasse, -plusse, -plois, surpelis, sirplis, -pleys, cirples, scherples; serppelys, shorpells, surpells, -peles, syrpeles), 6–7 surpless, -plisse, 6–8 -plus, (7 syrplesse, surpliss, sirplus, cirploise, serpils), 4– surplice. [a. AF. surpliz, OF. sourpeliz, sor-, sur-, also supelis, souplis (mod.F. surplis), = Pr. sobrepelitz, It. superpellicio, Sp., Pg. sobrepelliz, ad. med.L. superpellicium, -eum (sc. vestīmentum garment), neut. of adj. f. super- SUPER- 1 a + pellicia fur garment (f. pellis skin: see PELISSE).]

  A loose vestment of white linen having wide sleeves and, in its amplest form, reaching to the feet, worn (usually over a cassock) by clerics, choristers and others taking part in church services.

  ‘Its name is derived … from the fact that it was formerly put on over the fur garments which used to be worn in church … as a protection against the cold’ (Encycl. Brit., 1911, XXVI. 137/1).

  c. 1290.  All Souls’ Day, 345, in S. Eng. Leg., 430. His cope oþur is surplis þe preost he seith it isse.

c. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 161. Tua clerkes … In surplices wit serges berande.

13[?].  Adultery, 89, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 369. There come one in a whyte surples [v.r. surplyse].

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Miller’s T., 137. A gay surplys As whit as is the blosme vp on the rys.

1429–30.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904). 74. For wasshyng … of aubes & sarplys … ij s. Ibid. (1491–2), 173. A sourples for the clarke … ij s. Ibid. (1506–7), 260. j surplus for boll the sexton xij d.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 9. With your shirtes brodered and displayed In fourme of surplois.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion (Rubr. at end). The Priest shall put upon him a playn Albe or surplesse, with a cope, and say al thinges at the Altar … untill after the offertory.

1553.  in Daniel-Tyssen, Surrey Ch.-Goods (1869), 102. For newe collering of a scherples.

1553.  Machyn, Diary, 8 Aug. (Camden), 39. A grett company of chylderyn in ther surples.

a. 1592.  Greene, Alphonsus, III. Wks. (Grosart), XIII. 368. Rise Calchas vp, in a white Cirples and a Cardinals Myter, and say [etc.].

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, I. iii. 99. Though honestie be no Puritan, yet it will doe no hurt, it will weare the Surplis of humilitie ouer the blacke-Gowne of a bigge heart.

1617.  Assheton, Jrnl. (Chetham Soc.), 88. Some argument ab^t Mr. Leighs ministring y^e Sacrament with the Cirploise.

1633.  Rowley, Match at Midn., I. B 4. Has turn’d his stomacke, for all the World like a Puritanes, at the sight of a surplesse.

1641.  Impeachm. Bp. Wren, in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 352. He [sc. Bp. Wren] … in the said Year 1636 commanded … all Ministers to Preach constantly in their Hood and Surplice, a thing not used before in that Diocess.

1678.  Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. iii. § 8. 474/1. Sixtus [I] … ordered … that Priests should minister in Linnen Surplices.

1753.  Challoner, Cath. Chr. Instr., 153. The Bishop … invests them with a Surplice, and so receives them into the Clergy.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 816. He fill’d the sevenfold surplice fairly out.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 14 (Westw. Abb.). The choristers, in their white surplices, crossing the aisle and entering the choir.

1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., v. Is it a point of conscience with you to wear the surplice when you preach?

  1440–1.  Norwich Sacrist’s Roll (MS.). In factura alb. amict. sulliperes. Ibid. (1492–3). Pro xxij ulnis panni linei cum factura de le Solepers, xj s.

1478.  Croscombe Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 8. Wasscheng of vestments and Sorplers. Ibid. (1509), 30. Of Alys Vaysse a rynge of sylver and a serppelys.

1511.  Pilton Churchw. Acc. (ibid.), 60. For mendyng of the shorpells … iiij d.

1566.  Engl. Ch. Furniture (Peacock, 1866), 85. A alb—wherof ys mayd a surpells for the preste.

1606.  Burford Reg., in Var. Coll. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 78. Mr. Segwick hath not worne the serpils sence the tyme he hath ben vicar of Ockborne Saint Andrew.

  b.  transf. Applied to various ample or enveloping garments.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Sam. ii. 18. Samuel seruede before the face of the Lord, a child gird with a surplesse [1388 lynnun clooth; Vulg. ephod lineo]. Ibid. (1382), 2 Chron. v. 12. Sonis and bretheren of hem, clothed with surples [1388 white lynun clothis; Vulg. byssinis].

1488–92.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 85. The surples of the robe riall.

1558.  Phaër, Æneid, VIII. (1562), Cc iij. Some trayling mantels loose, or syrpleys wyndie wyde of skyrts.

1635.  R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 48. Shan O’Neal came out of Ireland with a Guard of Ax-bearing Galloglasses with … yellow surplises.

1756.  Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.), 184. Above this, fine muslin surpluses with point, which makes a very genteel dress.

1898.  Miss Yonge, J. Keble’s Parishes, xv. 175. Surplice, smock-frock.
  ‘Ah! sir, the white surplice covers a great deal of dirt’—said by a tidy woman of her old father.

  c.  attrib. and Comb., as surplice brabble, closet, coat, fashion; surplice-backed a., wearing a surplice; surplice day, a holy day or its eve, when members of a college wear surplices in chapel; surplice duty, that part of an incumbent’s duties that consists in the recital of public prayer; surplice fees, the dues received by an incumbent for the performance of marriages, burials and other ministerial offices; surpliceman nonce-wd., a clergyman; surplice pin, properly, a peg to hang a surplice on; hence, a hat-peg; surplice-wise adv., like a surplice.

a. 1845.  Hood, Dean & Chapter, i. Hail to each *surplice-back’d adapter.

1641.  Milton, Reform., II. Wks. 1851, III. 54. To make a Nationall Warre of a *Surplice Brabble, a Tippet-scuffle.

1874.  Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 161. Besides the *surplice-closets, and a cupboard … there need be no other furniture in the choir-vestry.

1902.  Daily Chron., 24 May, 8/3. Supposing a bottle-green length were chosen for a costume, it might have a short *surplice coat.

1663.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 511. To come on *surplice dayes to Merton College prayers.

1824.  Hitchins & Drew, Cornwall, II. 633. The *surplice duty of this parish is now performed by the rector of Blisland.

1845.  Hood, Surplice Question, 3. A very pretty public stir Is making down at Exeter, About the *surplice fashion.

1725.  T. Thomas, in MSS. Dk. Portland (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 129. The allowance of the Curate here … is twenty marks a year, and the *surplice fees.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. vii. 89. Whatsoever falls under the denomination of surplice-fees, for marriages or other ministerial offices of the church.

1818.  Bentham, Ch. Eng., 49. Surplice fees are unknown in Scotland.

1814.  Byron, in Lett. & Jrnls. (1898), II. 395. There be some strange phrases in the prologue (the exhortation), which made me turn away, not to laugh in the face of the *surpliceman.

1833.  Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 691. Five hat pins, or *surplice pins, as they are called by upholsterers.

1459.  Paston Lett., I. 475. A goune of clothe of golde, with side slevis, *sirples wise.

1565.  Sparke, Hawkins’ 2nd Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 54. Gownes of mosse … which they sowe together artificially, and make the same surpleswise.