Middle English Dictionary Entry
delver n.
Entry Info
| Forms | delver n. Also delverer. |
| Etymology | OE delfere |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
One who digs, a ditcher, a cultivator of fields; -- also, as surname.
Associated quotations
- (1230) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms34 : Will. le Deluer.
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 135 : Richard le Delvere.
- (1326) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms34 : Rog. le Deluere.
- (1345) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms34 : Sim. le Delver.
- (1350) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 25/32 [OD col.] : viij delverers sur la fessur dun delf en quele la cog John fast fait.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.100 : Dykers and Deluers Dikeden vp þe Balkes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)170b/b : A dyche..is a place..with witte of deluers y-myned.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.354 : Þanne shal deþ with-drawe and derthe be Iustice, And dawe þe deluere deye for defaute.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.96 : Neither the hidere of the gold ne the delvere of the feeld ne undirstoden nat that the gold sholde han ben founde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)118 : Deluar, or dyggar: Fossor.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.738 : The deluer [L fossor] is to help her with deluyng.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Meas.Treas.(Hrl 2255)106 : Dichers, delverys..greet travaylle endure.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.39.82b : More necessary to the londe is a diker or a deluerer than a goldsmyth.