Middle English Dictionary Entry
shāver n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shāver n. Also shavour. |
| Etymology | From shāven v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who cuts or shaves hair, a barber; a barber-surgeon; ?also, one who shears sheep or cuts cloth; -- transl. of L tonsor; (b) a dental instrument for scraping or cutting.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)652/9 : Rasor: shawere.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112a : A Schaver, vbi Barbure.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)333 : A Schaver: tonsor, barbitonsor.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)139a/a : It bihoueþ þe toþher or toþdrawer to be warn stored of apte instrumentz viz. rasours, raspatoriez [Ch.(2): schauers], spaturez..scalprez, i. shauours, & persours, [etc.].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)140a/b : If forsoþ þat auaile not, be it bucellet with a shauour [Ch.(2): rowme it wiþ a schauynge knyf] & a file, And be away made þer þat þe mete be not holden in þe hole.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)141a/b : Þorȝ þe canule be þer put in an yren yfired made to þe maner of a shauour [Ch.(2): chesel]..And in kauterizing be it kut.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. shaver.