Maundy noun. ['mɔ:ndi] Also maundy. ME.
[Old French mandé from Latin mandatum commandment, MANDATE noun, in mandatum novum a new commandment (with ref. to John 13:34), the opening of the first antiphon sung at the Maundy ceremony (see below).]
1. Orig., the ceremony of washing the feet of a number of poor people, performed by royal or other eminent people or by ecclesiastics, on the Thursday before Easter, and commonly followed by the distribution of clothing, food, or money. Now, the distribution by the British monarch of specially minted silver coins (Maundy money below) to a number of chosen recipients. ME.
b. fig. Almsgiving, bounty, largesse. L16-M17.
c. The money distributed by the British monarch at the Maundy ceremony. Also Royal Maundy. M19.

2. The Last Supper. Also (rare), the Eucharist. LME-M17.

Comb.:
Maundy coin a specially minted coin given as Maundy money; Maundy dish, Maundy purse: used to hold the money to be distributed at a Maundy ceremony; Maundy money silver money distributed by the British monarch on Maundy Thursday; Maundy purse: see maundy dish above; Maundy Thursday the Thursday before Good Friday.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲