Middle English Dictionary Entry
gǒnner n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gǒnner n. |
| Etymology | From gǒnne . Cp. ML gunnarius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A cannoneer; ~ sagittarius, a gunner who fires bolts like those of a crossbow; maister ~, a chief of cannoneers, master gunner; yeman ~, an assistant to a master gunner; also, an officer in charge of cannon for a town; (b) one who operates a siege engine; (c) a maker of cannon or of small firearms, a gunsmith [1st quot. may be (a).].
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1355) in Nrf.Archaeol.16 ()48 : Gunarium cum pulvere. ]
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52105/24 : Cuidam Gunner sagittario coram domino..vj s. viij d.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)58 : The devel is ȝour duke, and pride berith the baner; wraththe is ȝoure gunner, envie is ȝour archer.
- c1450(?1436) Siege Calais (Rome 1306)100 : Gonners began to shew thair art, Into the tovn in many a part Shot many a full gret ston..'Seynt Barbara!' than was the crie.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2588 : My saide lorde desirethe..xij gonners, ii maistre gonners, and xij yemen gonners.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.257 : To John Dawson, a commission to take vj gonners & carters & for þe pouder to commune with þe vj gonners.
- (1450) RParl.5.198a : Provided also, that this Petition..extende not nor be prejudiciall to Conay ap Ris, in nor of any Graunte or Grauntes made by us unto hym, of the office of Yoman Gonner of oure Citee and Castell of Westchestre.
- (1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)367 : Ther was my Lord of Yorkes ordynaunce iij mil. Gowneres.
- (1463) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.492 : [These] gonnes [had been recently bought of Hankyn Colyne..for 53 s. 4 d., a] gonner [having been brought to assay them].
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)213 : And ar the goners and borgeners couthe levylle hyr gonnys, they were besely fyghtyng.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8126 : First þei sette her arblasteris And her gonners & her best archeris.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)219 : Gunnare, or he þat swagythe a gunne: Petrarius, mangonalius [Win: Margonalius].
- a1450-a1475 Lydg.TB (Bergen)2.6426 : And her gonners stondynge at corners Wiþ hym also and cast of wylde fyre..hem silf þei diffende.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.449 : Titus causede his gunners to schote at the temple.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58b : A Gonner [Monson: Gunner]: fundibalarius, fundibalista.
c
- (1345-8) in G.Otto Handwerkernamen30 : Gonner.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)541/34 : The nombre of Masone, carpenters, smythes, paviloners, Armerers, Gunners, and artillers is cccxiiij.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57225 : My masters gonner came to hym, and he schalle have every weke xij d., and mete and drynke and beddynge.
- a1500 Retinue Edw.III Calais (Lamb 306)82 : Item, of masones, carpentrs, smythis, engyners, pavylandrs, armorars, goners, and macker of artorie.
- c1550(?a1400) Ordin.Househ.Edw.III (Hrl 782)4 : Artifficers and workmen: Massons 24, Carpinters 138..Gonners 6.