Middle English Dictionary Entry
barbǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | barbǒur n. Also barbur, barber, barbre. |
| Etymology | OF barbǒur, -ëor. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who shaves beards and cuts hair; a barber, hair-dresser; also, one who combines this occupation with blood-letting, tooth-extraction, and minor surgery; hence, a barber-surgeon; (b) barboures (shaving) hous, a barbershop; barboures basin (dish, launcet), ~ fe, ~ mirour.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1224) Close R.Tower 1608b : Willielmus le Barbur. ]
- [ (1249) Close R.Hen.III231 : Thomas le Barber. ]
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)684 : A baþ þai brouȝt rohand inne; A barbour was redi þare; al rowe it was, his chinne.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)84/1765 : Þe barbour in þe veyne hire smot, Sche bledde wel til ssche was hot.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2025 : Ther were also of Martes deuysioun The barbour and the bochier and the smyth.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)298/4 : Blood-letyng..falliþ for oure craft, þouȝ we for pride take it to barbouris & to wommen; &..principali for cirurgians.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)139a/a : Þise operacionz ar perticuler & most appropriate to barbours & toþedrawers.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)71/17 : Be þe lech war, þat none..perceyue when he opneþ with þe lancet..sich maner bolnyngz. For if barbours knowe þis doyng, þai wold vsurpe þis cure..vnto vnworschip and noȝt litel harme of maystrez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2331 : There barbours ware bownn with basyns on lofte..They schouen thes schalkes schappely thereaftyre.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2577 : Alle the barbours of Bretayne sall noghte thy blode stawnche!
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)124 : He wente..to be leten blood..the barbour..told hyme that he hadde cure therfore & coowde hele hym therof.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)305/24 : A passand curios barbur, and for euer-ilk man þat he shufe he tuke a peny.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)140.54 (v.2:p.394) : Ner trowe neuere hym .. to byn a cristene man, the whiche in leccherous blaunkyssynge and ____ of hymself louyth to han hys heer craftyly leyd on hys forheed and the barboure oftyn to kembyn his heed .., the whiche gladly talkyth wyth men and more gladly byhyldyth woummen.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)11/7 : Þe 5 essencie from..mannys blood reserued of Barbouris whanne þei lete blood.
- (1475) Stonor1.153 : For þe barbur, to make clene hys hed, xv d.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)692/28 : Hec tontrix: a barbor.
b
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 32/4 : Make hote watre on the fire, and put yn a good large bolle or ells ain a barbers basyn þat be clene.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)49 : Ȝif þe woundes be to litel, þei must be made wydder with a barbouris launcet.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9a/b : Barbitondium: barbores hous vel tonsura barbe.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)282 : Who comeþ to ony holi ordris wiþouten extorsion of money for barbour fees, and grete raunsons for letteris?
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.45102 : De ij barbour myrors ij d.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)33 : Barbowris schauynge hows: barbitondium.
- a1500 Rwl.C.506 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.506) 164/24 : Take brasill and schave it small, and put it yn a clene barburys dysche of erthe and put watir þertoo.
2.
A member of a craft-guild or company of barbers and barber-surgeons; ~ hal, the guild-hall of the London Company of Barbers.
Associated quotations
- (1308) in Young Barber-Surgeons24 : Ric[ardu]s le Barbour..electus est et presentatus per Barbitonsores [etc.].
- (1381) in Young Barber-Surgeons28 : Barbar hall, ye paryssh of Seynt Oluf in Sylverstrete.
- (1388) in Young Barber-Surgeons575 : A bretherhode ther is ordened of barbres in the site of Norwyche..Maystris and kepers of the gyld: Philippus Barbur..Thomas Barbyr.
- (1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.321 : Unto the..Mair and Aldremen of the Citie of London. Besechen..alle the persones enfraunchised in the craft and mistier of Barbours wythin the said Citee That it please unto your lordshippes [etc.].
- (1451) Grant Arms in Young Barber-S.432 : The Maisters of Barbory and Surgery within the craft of Barbours..praying me..to devise hem a conysauns & syne in fourme of armes..y have devysed a Conysaunce in fourme of Armes..A felde sabull a cheveron bytwene iij flemys of silver.
- (c1475) LRed Bk.Bristol2.152 : The Maisters of the Craft of Barboures of the toune of Bristowe.
3.
One who trims wool fleece [cp. barben v.].
Associated quotations
- (1425-6) Red Paper Bk.Colchester49 : Barbers, and White Tawyers, that leyen many diverse hides..and other diverse skynnes in payryng [to the impairing] and the corrupcion of the said water of the rever biforeseid, and in destruccion of the ffyssh therynne.