α. late Middle English Godys goode, late Middle English–1500s Goddis good, 1500s Godesgood, 1500s Godis gud (Scottish), 1500s Godsgood, 1500s–1600s Gods good, 1600s– God's good.
β. 1600s Gosgood (English regional (Norfolk), in sense 2).
God's goodn.
/ˌɡɒdz ˈɡʊd/, U.S. /ˌɡɑdz ˈɡʊd/ 1. In †singular and plural.† b. Something considered to be without human owner, and therefore open to be appropriated by anyone; English regional (Cornwall) a shipwreck on the shore, or the goods salvaged from it; cf. godsend n. 2. Obsolete.
a. Worldly possessions, food, etc., viewed as the property of God in human stewardship; (also) church property. Now archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > worldly or secular property > regarded as God's gift
God's sandOE
God's gooda1425
God's send1629
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 114 (MED) Ech man þat yvil dispendiþ Goddis good is a þef.
c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 316 Þe secunde cause..is wastyng of goddis good; for alle goodis of þis world ben goodis of god þe cheef lord.
c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock Donet (1921) 70 (MED) He tretiþ goddis good to bi it aȝens goddis licence..bi cause he may not possesse it.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxvii. 364 For to sowpe we make vs bowne Now of oure fode; We haue enogh, sir, bi my crowne, Of Godys goode.
c1535 Ploughman's Tale iii. sig. C.ii What thynke these men to say That thus dispenden goddis good.
1568 (a1500) Freiris Berwik 301 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 270 Heir is now annwch of godis gud.
1613 A. Whitaker Good Newes from Virginia 17 As that wee may bee liberall in all kinde to giue them meat, drinke and other of Gods goods in necessity according to the seuerall necessities of them.
1650 T. Lushington Crell's Iustification Sinner xvi. 168 Gods goods are all distributed for the reliefe of impotent, poore, and needy wretches.
a1700 C. Ellis Three Disc. (1704) 256 Whatever Portion of his Goods God hath committed to another's Trust, they are God's Goods still.
1761 W. Shirley Twelve Serm. ii. 40 He may with Justice upbraid me as a false Steward of God's Goods.
1847 R. Mushet Bk. Symbols (ed. 2) 185 He is but the trustee of God's goods, and must give an account to Him of their use.
1974 Texas Stud. Lit. & Lang. 15 631 It suggests someone who wants to get control of God's goods for himself.
2006 Hist. Jrnl. 49 721 The more sharing in God's goods, the greater exercise in virtue.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > property available to anyone
God's good?1553
?1553 Respublica (1952) iv. iii. 35 Now vor lacke of a sallet whan my lyege hath neade cham vaine to take an hatte of godsgood on my heade.
1688 P. Pett Happy Future State of Eng. sig. C * v When they see a poor Vessel contending with a violent Tempest near it, and the next Minute likely to Condemn it as a wrack, and furnish them with Gods Goods (I mean such as they call wrack'd ones).
1693 T. Rokeby Diary 29 July (1887) 28 The cause of ye Orange Merchts agt ye Cornish Wreckers for God's goods, soe (wickedly) called.
1733 R. Cox in Jrnl. Cork Hist. & Archaeol. Soc. (1902) 8 166 The wreck being esteemed (as the Cornish men phrase it) God's goods.
1756 T. Francklyn Serious Advice & Fair Warning 45 They wickedly called such devilish Acquests by the sacred Name of God's Goods.
1815 C. Smith Anc. & Present State of Cork (New ed.) i. 27 The wreck being esteemed (as the Cornish mens' phrase is) God's goods.
2. Barm, yeast. Now English regional (East Anglian and Kent).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > substances for food preparation > [noun] > leaven or yeast
barmc1000
yeastc1000
sourdough1303
leaven1340
fermentc1420
God's good1469
quickening1573
rising1594
sizzing1594
leavening1626
kneading1638
emptying1650
yeast-cake1795
hametz1891
1469 in Norfolk Archaeol. (1859) 5 324 Berme, otherwise clepid goddis good..hath frely be goven or delyvered for brede, whete [etc.]..and noon warned, bicause it cometh of ye grete grace of God [etc.].
1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth x. sig. F.ii Yest, barme, or godesgood.
1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie ii. i. sig. C3 It behoueth my wits worke like barme, alias yest, alias sizing, alias rising, alias Gods good.
1673 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 67 Gods good, Yeast, Barm. Kent, Norf., Suff.
1807 Compl. Farmer (ed. 5) I God's-good, a term provincially employed to signify yeast or barm.
1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. God's good, yeast; barm.
ΚΠ
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 3v He that for euery qualme wil take a Receipt, and cannot make two meales, vnlesse Galen be his Gods good: shall be sure to make the Phisition rich, & himselfe a begger.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1425