Middle English Dictionary Entry
destrẹ̄r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | destrẹ̄r n. Also desterer. Pl. destrer(e)s & (errors) desters, destres, dextreis. |
| Etymology | OF destr(i)er |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A riding horse of noble breed, a steed, a knight's mount.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1370 : Forþ him went a messanger Swiftlich on a gode destrer.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2356 : Sir Gij..feld him doun of his destrer.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)14/283 : Þe maistres and þe messagers Habbez greiþed here destres [read: destrers].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.150 : Lette apparayle prouisours on Palfreis wyse And alle Denes and Sodenes as Destreres dihten, For þei schullen beren Bisschops.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2103 : He was a knyght auntrous..by hym baiteth his destrer.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.124 : To ded þan gon he falle doun of his destrere.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)800 : Þe kniȝttes hunteþ after dere, On fote and on destrere.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4125 : Of his stede þe kyng aliȝth..And seide: 'Kniȝttes, ȝiueþ kep To Bulciphal, my destrere!'
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)340/1458 : A knyȝt..Gan to prike on his destrer, Þat he no made no targyng.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)132 : Her sadell was overgeld..Melk whit was her destrere.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1098 : A kniȝt y-cloþed in inde Upon a bay destrere.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)159/10 : iiij Olifauntz and iiij grete destreres, all white..ledynge the chariot.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.483 : Vppon here destreris forto Ride, with tho knyhtes to Meten.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)10020 : They come wyth her Squyers Freschly rydyng vpon her dextreys [read: dextrerys].
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1650 : Stedes chargyd, and destrers [vr. desters], Wiþ armure and oþir vytayle.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)226 : But swythe as armes!..lepe we on oure destrers, that gode ben & lyȝt.