English

Noun

black sanctus ‎(plural black sanctuses)

1. parody of a song
   • 1533. (R. Saltwood) As plesaunt to the ere as the blacke sanctus Of a sad sorte vpon a mery pyn.
   • 1578 (T. Lupton) I will make him sing the blacke sanctus, I holde him a grote.
   • 1997 (D.M. Bevington) Black Sanctus, a parodic hymn to Satan in ridicule of the monks. The term was sometimes used of any discord of harsh sounds or profane ditty such as might be used to serenade a faithless wife.
2. the sounds of dialogue consisting of complaints and expressions of contempt, especially said of a spouse
   • 1861. (All Year Around) The surly sinners sing A horrible black santis, so to cheer The work in hand.
   • 1997 (D.M. Bevington) Black Sanctus, a parodic hymn to Satan in ridicule of the monks. The term was sometimes used of any discord of harsh sounds or profane ditty such as might be used to serenade a faithless wife.
   • 2003. (M. Morton, "Lover's Tongue") The clanging of pots that accompanied this parade of infidelity was known as rough music or the black sanctus.
3. A sudden tangential outburst of obscenities
   • 1892 (The Stanford dictionary of anglicised words and phrases) The phr. black sanctus (sanlus, santos, santis, Sanctis) means an uproarious torrent of profanity

Alternative forms

• black santis
• blacke-saint
• blacke santis
• blacke santus
• blacksaunt
• black-sant
• blacke saunts
• blacke sanctus
• black sanlus
• black santos
• black sanctis
• to sing the black sanctus