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 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Orphus, -e(o)us, -is, -es, -eis, n. Also: orfus. [Sc. form corresp. to ME. orfreis (cf. Orphari(e n.), OF. orfreis, with loss of the second -r- by haplology.] A narrow band of material, frequently richly embroidered, applied to the edge of an ecclesiastical vestment or altar-cloth; an orphrey.(a) 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 62.
Giffin to Thomas Anderson for ane orphus to ane vestment of gold iiij li. 1503 Reg. Soltre 158.
For ane orfus of ymagery and ane hud vii li. 1513 Edinb. Hammermen 81.
For ane eln welwos to be ane orphus to the vestment 1551–2 Treas. Acc. X. 52.
Ane orpheus of browdry werk, wrocht witht gold and silver to ane chesople 1554 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 634.
Ane caip of reid satyne with ane nerrow orpheous of gold(b) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 358.
Ane chessable with orphis [etc.](c) 1539–40 Treas. Acc. VII. 293.
For cammes to stuff the orpheis of the samin [a vestment] 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 44.
Thre capis … with the orpheis of blak welwote and graith pertenand thairtopl. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 415.
For making of ane stand of claith of gold to the chapell, furnesing of orphesis and browdery thairto c 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 64.
Twa tunykillis with abbis, stolis, and fannonis, with orphesis ymagerye of fyne gold