Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Candilmes, -mas, n. Also: candill- (kandil-), candyl-, candel(l)mes, candlemes(e, candlmes(s)e; candel- (kandel-)mas; candlemais, -mis(e, candelemis. [ME. candil-, candelmesse, late OE. candelmæsse, f. candel Candill, mæsse Mes n.]

1. Candlemas, Feb. 2, one of the term-days.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 4859; Ib. 4907.
The thryd titill is Candilmes [C. Candylmes], That fyrst begouth throuch hethynes Ib. viii. 7145.
Begynnand at the Candilmes, To the Yule, or efftyr, it wedand wes 1450 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 12.
It sall be lefull to thame to red their handis of it … betwix this and Candilmes 1456 Acts II. 45/2.
Thai trow the Inglismen will alsueill consent till a specialtie fra Candilmes till wedder dais as thai dide now till Candilmes 1480 Acta Conc. 76/2.
The termes of Saintandrosmes and Candilmes 1485 Lennox Mun. 126.
Payand fyff chalder of ber, to be deliueryt … betuix Candilmes and Patrikmes 1507 Reg. Dunferm. 361.
At four termes in the ȝhere … Witsonday, Lammes, Mertynmes and Candilmes 1549 Montgomery Mem. 147.
The fest of the Purificatione of our Lady callit Candellmes 1556 Liber Calchou 484.
Allowit … for furnissing of walx to the kirk … at Candilmes, and wyne and oistis at Pasche 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 27.
The entrie of these [ministers, etc.] that ar presented, to be at Allhallowmes, Lambmes, Candlemes or Beltan 1587–8 Lanark B. Rec. 91.
To Mr Mathow Wilsone, scuillmaster, for the Kandilmes and Beltene, … ten pundis 1602 Shetl. Sheriff Ct. 52 b.
His entries to wark … wes at Kandilmes ane ȝeir bygane 1604 Liber Dryburgh 320.
Payand … four bollis beir … at Candilmes and Beltane 1631 Ann. Banff I. 67.
To borrowe his midil shoit boit … to be redelyuerit to him before Candilmes 1654–5 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 531.
To Mr John Andersone, ane of the doctours of the said scole, for the terms of Candlmes and Lames 1665 Glasgow Weavers 31.
The uther tua dollouris is to be payit at Candilmes nixt 1671 Annandale Corr. 311.
Thes who were payed anual rentts to Candlmesse lastt(b) 1671 St. A. Presb. 88.
Between this and Candlemais nixt(c) 1667 Red Bk. Menteith II. 169.
I hope to get your Lordship sum monyes near Candelemis 1697 Fraser P. 150.
Ther rents are not payable till Candlemise

2. Attrib. with court, maill, play, processioun, silver, term. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The cwstwmaris is qwyt of the Candilmes term in al and in siluer 1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 435.
Baitht in Candilmes play and utheris processionis 1523 Ib. 445.
John Pill, tailȝeour, wes conuikit … becaus he refusit to pas in the Candilmes processioun with his taikin 1531 Ib. 450.
Euery ane of the said craftis, in the Candilmes procession, sall furneis thair pageane 1555 Carte Northberwic 71.
The said priores is content to superceid hyr Kandelmes maill of this ȝer … to Beltane 1583–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 55.
For wyne to my Lord Huntlie … att his being heir at Candlemis court 1670 Glasgow Weavers 80.
Item at Candelmes court £12 0 0 1693 Foulis Acc. Bk. 154.
To M^r Aird … to give Adames M^r his Candlemes silver