deacon
.
Searchable Lemmata: deken (ME), dekin (OScots), deacon (MdE).
Alternate Forms: diaconalibus, deakyn, diacones.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Occupation;
ecclesiastical office (current in most European languages) - cf. following sense.(ante 700 still in current use)
Sex: Male Use: Ecclesiastical Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
2(n.)
Garment;
garment worn by a deacon.(circa 1423 - circa 1473 ?)
1. [75] ... Pro uno vestimento de nigro panno de baudekyn, viz. j casula, deakyn et subdeakyn, cum una capa ... pro uno vestimento albo de damask, continente j casulam, deakyn et subdeakyn. ... [76] ... Pro j barmecloth de rubeo panno auri.
Wills.
[MED Will York in Sur. Soc. 45 (75-76) circa 1423]
2. I praye yow sende me a newe vestment off whyght damaske ffor a dekyne, whyche is among myn other geer ... I wyll make an armyng doblett off it.
[MED Paston (5.187-188) circa 1473]
Sex: Male Use: Ecclesiastical Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, ME deken (a deacon), from OE diacon, deacon, from Latin diaconus, ultimately from Greek. The Late Latin adjectival form diaconalis (diaconal, of a deacon) is used as a substantive (neuter) to refer to the vestment.
WF:
Etym Cog:
References:
