Middle English Dictionary Entry
spīcer n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spīcer n. Also spicere, spis(s)er, spisour, (in surnames) spisier, spec(i)er. |
| Etymology | From OF especier, espic(i)er, espissier, AF especer, spicer; cp. ML speciarius, AL spesarius, spicerius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A dealer in spices, an apothecary; spicer(es shoppe, an apothecary's shop; ~ wif, a female apothecary; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1311) Cart.Oseney in OHS 8931 : Iohanni de Hamptone, spicer de Oxonia.
- (1350-51) Freeman R.in KRec.18203 : Henricus palmer, Spicer.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)113b/a : Venus..makeþ singers..makers of confexiouns of spicerie & spiceres, [etc.].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)67/18 : Þanne I sente to þe spiceris schoppe, [etc.].
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)10.125 : A rose..Out of a raggit rote and a rouȝ brere Springeþ & sprediþ, þat spiceris [vr. spisours] desiriþ.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)9 : The spicer [F espicer] takeþ hys mers out of hys bale.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)35b/a : Ipoteca: a spiceres [Pep: spicer] shope.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)260 : They gone with sorwful chere in maner of desolate widowes to some apothecarie or spicer.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)74 : There growid many treis..swetter of sauour þan al þe spicers [vr. spyssers] shoppes.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57153 : Item, the vij day off Jully my mastyre lent my lord to pay to hys spycere at London.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)118b : A Spicer: apothecarius uel ipothecarius.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)28b/28 : The spycer had hym home and yafe hym a noble triacle..and leyde hym in his bede and hillid wele.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)692/41 : Apoticaria: a spyser wyfe.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)730/28 : Apoteca: a spycerschope.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1595 : There were stallis..Werkmen into won and þaire wares shewe..Of all þe craftes to ken..Sporiors, Spicers, Spynners of clothe, [etc.].
b
- (a1195) Cart.Oseney in OHS 9025 : Radulfo Spicer.
- (1200) in Fransson Surn.68 : Bertram le Specier.
- (1207) Fine R.King John453 : Adam Speciar.
- (1261) Feet Fines Oxf.in ORS 12187 : Willelmus le Specer.
- (1306) Reg.Woodlock in Cant.Yk.S.44785 : Willelmum le Spysser.
- (1311-12) Freeman R.in KRec.18191 : Edmundus Spisier.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11204 : William þe spicer & geffray of hencsei..Nome of þis clerkes & in prison caste.
- (1332) in Fransson Surn.68 : Nich. Spisour.
- (1366) Deed Conveyancing in Archaeol.59278 : Ricardo le Spiser.
- (1392-3) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.537 : De Johanne Spicer' pro cc quarteriis frumenti, [etc.].
- (1428) Feudal Aids 2304 : Johannes Spycer.
- (1470) Paston2.586 : Maister Spicer and Maister Stevyn trustyn vppon me..to speke to my lord for relyeve.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1230) Pat.R.Hen.III371 : Alexander le Espicer de nave que vocatur Stocstrong.
Note: Needed for date.
Note: New form: (in surnames)..espicer.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (b).--notes per MLL