Lammas

American  

[lam-uhs] / ˈlæm əs /

noun

1. a former festival in England, held on August 1, in which bread made from the first harvest of corn was blessed.

2. a festival Feast of St. Peter's Chains observed by Roman Catholics on August 1, in memory of St. Peter's imprisonment and his miraculous deliverance.

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Lammas British  

/ ˈlæməs /

noun

1. RC Church Aug 1, held as a feast, commemorating St Peter's miraculous deliverance from prison

2. Also called: Lammas Day.  the same day formerly observed in England as a harvest festival. In Scotland Lammas is a quarter day

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Etymology

Origin of Lammas

before 900; Middle English Lammesse, Old English hlāmmæsse, hlāfmæsse. See loaf ¹, Mass

Example Sentences

Lammas, which falls on Aug. 1, is the least known today.

From Washington Post • Apr. 30, 2023

Party member Robbie Lammas, part of a “Liz for Leader” contingent at the Eastbourne event, said he likes Truss’s “more optimistic view” of the economy.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2022

Hudson Pacific owns 15 million square feet of offices for rent in the West, including buildings in Vancouver, Canada, that have returned to about 20% occupancy, President Mark Lammas said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2020

The old ways, said Mr. Lammas, the engineering chief, had merit.

From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2016

One thing I did know from hard experience: a master's promise to a prentice is likely to be redeemed only at the last Lammas, as they say—which is to say never.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood