kirkingn.
/ˈkəːkɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkərkɪŋ/, Scottish English /ˈkɪrkɪŋ/ Originally and chiefly Scottish. Now chiefly historical.
= churching n. 1. Also: the attendance of a newly married person or couple at church for the first time after marriage; cf. kirk v. 1c.Recorded earliest in attributive use.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > cleanness (ceremonial) > purification > [noun] > of women, following childbirth
church gangOE
purgationa1382
purificationc1384
churching1470
kirking1488
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 352 It was bot till a kyrkyn fest.
1581 N. Woodes Conflict of Conscience (new ed.) iii. iv. sig. D.iijv Gif awt af this we pea far vale, we laytle mare can spare, Sawl Masses, Diriges, Monethmayndes and Buryinges, Alsowinday, Kirkings, Baneasking and weddings.
1656 in W. Cramond Extracts Rec. Synod of Moray (1906) 121 That presbyteries be cairfull to remove superstitione..in kirking of women after child-birth.
1818 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Nov. 414 On Sunday comes the kirking. The bride and bridegroom, attended by their office-bearers,..walk to the kirk.
1870 Eclectic Mag. Sept. 345/1 The next Sabbath would be the Sabbath of Mally's kirking in Adam's crimson plaid, the kirking of her life.
1922 J. Firth Reminisc. Orkney Parish 55 The bride's ‘kirking-claes’—the gown and plaid—served her for Sunday wear for many a day.
1972 D. Buchan Ballad & Folk 80 References to the social events and pastimes of the rural community, the kirkings, the christening feasts, the ‘herrying’ of birds' nests.
1998 Social Hist. 23 296 The folk ceremonies of ‘kirking’ for new mothers and ‘lyke wakes’ for the dead.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1488