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Bishop

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bishop¹

  • /ˈbɪʃəp/

Where it comes from

From Middle English bischop, bishop, bisshop, biscop, from Old English bisċop (“bishop”), from Proto-West Germanic *biskop, from Vulgar Latin (e)biscopus, from classical Latin episcopus (“overseer, supervisor”), from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “overseer”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”), used in Greek and Latin both generally and as a title of civil officers. Cognate with all European terms for the position in various Christian churches; compare also Middle English bisp (“bishop”).

* The Tyndale Bible uses native English overseer instead.

noun bishops · byshop

  1. An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory. King James of blessed memory said, no Bishop, no King: it was not he, but others that added, No Ceremony, no Bishop.
  2. nonstandard A similar official or chief priest in another religion. The Caliphaes of the Sarasins were kings and chiefe bishops in their religion.
  3. obsolete The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc. They gave away corn, not cash; and Cicero was made bishop, or overseer, of this public victualling.
  4. obsolete Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker. There is no place we see privileged from temptations, no desert so solitary but the devil will seek it out; no pinnacle so high but the devil is a bishop over it, to visit and overlook it.
  5. A chief of the Festival of Fools or St. Nicholas Day.
  6. The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English. The Bishoppes some name Alphins, some fooles, and some name them Princes; other some call them Archers.
  7. Any of various African birds of the genus Euplectes; a kind of weaverbird closely related to the widowbirds.
  8. dialectal A ladybug or ladybird, beetles of the family Coccinellidae. ‘Bishop, Bishop-Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding shall be; If it be to-morrow day, Ope your wings and fly away.
  9. A flowering plant of the genus Bifora.
  10. A sweet drink made from wine, usually with oranges, lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port. Well roasted, with Sugar and Wine in a Cup, They'll make a sweet Bishop.
  11. US, archaic A bustle. If, by her bishop, or her 'grace' alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known.
  12. UK, archaic, dialectal A children's smock or pinafore. Here; tak him, an wesh him; an' put him a clen bishop on.

Similar: diocesan bishop, suffragan bishop, ordinary, hierarch, consecrator

verb bishops · bishoping · bishopping · bishoped · bishopped

  1. To act as a bishop, to perform the duties of a bishop, especially to confirm another's membership in the church. Se bisceop biþ gesett... to bisceopgenne cild.
  2. broadly, obsolete To confirm (in its other senses). Why sent they it by Felton to be bishoped at Paules?
  3. To make a bishop. 1549, H. Latimer, 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie, 5th Serm. sig. Pviv Thys hathe bene often tymes... sene in preachers before they were byshoppyd or benificed.
  4. rare To provide with bishops. Italy would be well bishoped if her episcopacy... did not exceed fifty-nine.
  5. UK, dialectal To permit food (especially milk) to burn while cooking (from bishops' role in the inquisition or as mentioned in the quotation below, of horses). If the porage be burned to, or the meate ouer rosted, we say the bishop hath put his foote in the potte or the bishop hath played the cooke, because the bishops burn who they lust and whosoever displeaseth them.
  6. broadly To make a horse seem younger, particularly by manipulation of its teeth. 1727, R. Bradley, Family Dict. at "Horse" This way of making a Horse look young is... called Bishoping.

bishop²

  • /ˈbɪʃəp/

Where it comes from

Eponymous, from the surname Bishop.

verb bishops · bishoping · bishopping · bishoped · bishopped

  1. UK, colloquial, obsolete To murder by drowning. I Burked the papa, now I'll Bishop the son.

Bishop³

  • /ˈbɪʃəp/

Where it comes from

From bishop.

proper noun Bishops · Bishopp

  1. countable An English surname originating as an occupation.
  2. countable A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. countable, uncountable A city in Inyo County, California; named for nearby Bishop Creek, itself named for early settler Samuel Addison Bishop.
  4. countable, uncountable A town in Oconee County, Georgia; named for local landowner W. H. Bishop.
  5. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Forest City Township, Mason County, Illinois; named for landowner Henry Bishop.
  6. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Worcester County, Maryland.
  7. countable, uncountable A city in Nueces County, Texas; named for landowner F. Z. Bishop.
  8. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia and McDowell County, West Virginia, located on the state line.
  9. countable, uncountable A ghost town in Whitman County, Washington; named for two early settlers.

noun Bishops

  1. Alternative letter-case form of bishop, particularly as a title or term of address.bishop
  2. A self-propelled 25-pounder vehicle produced by the United Kingdom during World War II, so called from a supposed resemblance to a bishop's miter.

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