Middle English Dictionary Entry
tābler(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tābler(e n. Also tabeler(e, tabuler & (error) taller. |
| Etymology | OF tablier, tabler; also cp. ML tabulārium, tablerium cloth, gaming board. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) ?A notebook, tablet; ?a register; (b) ?a table cover, tablecloth; ?a towel; (c) game. the game of backgammon or some similar game; also, a backgammon board, game board;— also pl.; -- also used fig.; pleien at the ~, to play backgammon or a similar game.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)64a/b : Tabularium: a tabeler [Add 33534: Tablarium: a tabuler].
b
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52178/8 : Graunsom bastard pro j tabler per ipsum empt. ibidem pro domino, xij scot.
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2225 : Þo þat willieþ to leue at hame pleyeþ to þe eschekkere, & summe of hem to iew-de-dame, & summe to tablere.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52113/17 : Johanni Clifton, militi, pro tabelers et meisne per ipsum emptis, de dono domini, xliij s. iiij d. vj scot.
- (1392) Will York in Sur.Soc.4174 : Lego patri uxoris meæ..unum tabeler ov le menyhe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1044 : Ȝyf þou euer with iogeloure, with hasadoure, or with rotoure Hauntyst tauerne or were to any pere To pley at þe ches or at þe tablere..Hyt ys aȝens þe comaundment.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)247/19 : Wiþinne a monþe he miȝt se to pleie at þe tabler.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)65/989 : He was..to be Man of valoure And lernen chiualrie, Of huntyng & of Ryuere, Of chesse pleieyng & of tablere.
- (1410) Will York in Sur.Soc.4548 : De xij d. de j tabeler cum menye.
- (1416) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.49 : [One] tabler [with the] meigne, [12 d.].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)485 : Tabler, or table of pley or game: Pirgus.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.114r : The Tabler of Fortune with vncertayne castes disceyueth her pleyers in þe table of this lyf.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11395 : Somme pleide at hasard fast..Somme þat wolde nought of þe tabler Drowe forthe meyne for þe cheker.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6043 : I wil yow lere..The vnkouth craft of the taller [read: tabler] And the poyntes of the cheker.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17272 : I hadde inspeccioun Off an abbey..foundyd besyden a cheker, Squar as ys a Tabler.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)626 : Pertica, scaccarium, alea, decius [glossed:] perche, checure, tabelere, dyce.