Middle English Dictionary Entry
forcēr, fō̆rcer n.
Entry Info
| Forms | forcēr, fō̆rcer n. Also focer, forshir, forsure. |
| Etymology | OF forcer, forcier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A strongbox, chest, coffer, casket; (b) ~ maker, one who makes chests or strongboxes; (c) nest ~, a nest or set of boxes or coffers.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)210 : Cofren & forcers wel sone heo vnwunden, Gold & stoir & mirre heo habit þer inne ifunden.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)90/1901 : Þai dede þe king fille twei forcers Of riche gold and of clers.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4432 : Feiþli of a forcer a fair bok sche rauȝt.
- c1390 Hose wolde be-þenke (Vrn)110 : Such Idel wordes, I ou preye, ȝe louke hem faste in ȝoure forcere, And let concience bere þe keye, For þen schal charite be most chere.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)263 : Her were a forser for þe in faye, If þou were a gentyl jueler.
- (1404) *Exch.Misc.Deed (PRO) (PRO)6-28c : A lytyl forsshyr.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)904 : Medee to here forsure gos And drow out relikes manye & gode.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.211 : Ȝet ar þere fybicches in forceres of fele mennes makynge.
- (1431-2) EEWills91/20 : A forser with loke and kye.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)453 : Certeyn dedys, scrytis, menementis, conteynyng in a fforsere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)170 : Foorcere: Cistella, teca, clitella, scrinium.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.507a : Eny manere peynted Ware, Forcers, Caskettes [etc.].
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)57 : He killid anothir child of his and put it in a forser.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)65 : Fortune, by strenght, þe forser hath vnschete Wher-in wasse spred all my wor[l]dely Rychesse.
b
- (1408) Close R.Hen.IV368 : [William Parker and Roger Whitberde of London], forcermakers.
- (1411) Close R.Hen.IV237-8 : Forcermaker.
c
- (1467) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.616 : Item pro xii nest forcers val.xl s.
- (1467) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.617 : Pro ix nest countours..pro iii nest focers.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)60a/b : Þe orificiel partie [of the abdomen], þe whiche olde men cleped þe precordiale, is towarde þe cheste oþer þe forcer of þe bodie.
Note: New sense: anat. the chest
- (1415) Invent.Agincourt in Archaeol.7099 : Item, vn Spruse ferser [vr. Spruesfocer], pris vj d.
Note: New spelling