† steeple fairn.
Obsolete.
In sarcastic use, an imaginary fair or market for church livings. The definition ‘a common fair or mart’ given in some dictionaries is based on a misunderstanding of quot. 1622.
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society > trade and finance > trading place > market > [noun] > imaginary for church livings
steeple fair1597
society > faith > worship > benefice > simony > [noun] > imaginary fair or market for
steeple fair1597
1597 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 1st 3 Bks. ii. v. 39 Thou seruile Foole: why couldst thou not repaire To buy a Benefice at Steeple-Faire?
1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iv. ii. 1764 Are not you the yong drouer of liuings..that haunts steeple faires.
1622 J. Taylor Water-cormorant E 2 b These youths [i.e. the ‘penny clarks’ of a ‘symonicall patron’], in Art, purse, and attire most bare Giue their attendance, at each steeple faire.
1624 R. Montagu Immediate Addresse 44 To buy a Bishopricke, or Office, and dye soone after: or some other Preferment at Steeple-faire.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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