[‘ In early use: pomp, ostentation, pride, vanity. In later use: merrymaking, jollity; an instance of this.']
Forms: ME *olipraunce*, ME *olypraunce*, ME *orpraunce*, ME *orypranns*, ME *oryprauns*, 15 *oliprance* /Sc./, 15 *olyprance* /Sc./; /Eng. regional/ (Northants.) 17–18 *olyprance*.
Etymology:Origin uncertain; apparently < Anglo-Norman /orprance/ vanity, ostentation (late 13th cent. in the passage translated in quot. a/14001; also as /oriprance), of uncertain origin: perhaps related to Old French /oripel/ copper or brass with the appearance of gold (early 13th cent.; French /oripeau/); or perhaps < an unattested Old English compound formed < or- prefix + Old English /prass/ pomp, proud array.
The variant molly-prance is recorded by A. E. Baker Gloss. Northamptonshire Words (1854) II. 27.
/Eng. regional/ (Northants.) in later use. Obs.
In early use: pomp, ostentation, pride, vanity. In later use: merrymaking, jollity; an instance of this.
c/1390 in /Englische Studien/ (1877) *1* 165 (/MED), For leuere me were to be dede þen þus schomeliche my lyf lede wiþoute welye and orpraunce.
/a/1400 (▸c1303) R. Mannyng /Handlyng Synne/ (Harl.) 4578 Pryde..Of ryche atyre ys here auaunce, Prykyng here hors with olypraunce [Fr. /Lur orprance mustre al oyl/].
a/1400 (1303) R. Mannyng /Handlyng Synne/ (Harl.) 4692 (/MED), Hem were leuer here of a daunce, Of bost, and of olypraunce, Þan any gode of God of heuene [Fr. /De pechier dunent enchesun, Seur seiez, li fol bricun/].
/c/1400 (1380) /Cleanness/ (1920) 1349 In pryde and olipraunce his empyre he haldes.
a/1586 /Peblis to Play in W. A. Craigie /Maitland Folio MS/ (1919) I. 178 Than þai to the taverne hous with meikle oly-prance.
/a/1600 (▸1535) W. Stewart tr. H. Boece /Bk. Cron. Scotl./ (1858) III. 552 Sone efter this with mekle oliprance Ane greit ambaxat send wes out of France.
a/1783 T. Percy in J. Pinkerton /Sel. Sc. Ballads/ (1783) II. 168 /Oly-prance, is a word still used by the vulgar in Northamptonshire, for rude rustic jollity. Olyprancing doings are strange, disorderly, inordinate sportings formerly used in Pilgrimages.
1790 F. Grose /Provinc. Gloss./ (ed. 2), /Oly-prance/, oly-prancing doings, rude, boisterous merriment, a romping-match, Northamptonsh.
1854 A. E. Baker /Gloss. Northamptonshire Words/ II. 76 When a party of young people go out gipsying or gathering violets, and..have had a day of great enjoyment, they will return home, and say ‘We’ve had a nice oly prance.’