Middle English Dictionary Entry
tappester(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tappester(e n. Also tapester(e, tapister, tapster(e, tapstare & (in surname) tappistere & (errors) tampster, stapster; pl. tappesters, etc. & tappestrs, tapsterisse. |
| Etymology | OE tæppestre |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who draws and sells ale, a tapster; a tavernkeeper; also fig.; (b) specif. a female tapster, barmaid, an alewife; a tavern hostess [a few quots. may belong to (a)]; also fig.; also, as a term of denigration for a woman [quot. c1475(c1450)]; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1400) LRed Bk.Bristol2.30 : [Nota de] tappesters.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A promise of tapsters, a glosynge of tauerners.
- ?a1450 Mem.Cred.(Tan 201)100/13 : Couetyse is a mys ordynatt loue of the worldus gode..as..with false mesures as doþ þes tapsters and brewars.
- c1450 Tappster fyll (SeldArch B.26)1 : Tappster, fille Anoþer Ale.
- c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)111/320 : Me thynkiþ ȝe ben tapsteres..Ȝe tappe ȝour absoluciones þat ȝe bye at Rome.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)101/28 : The same abbesse graunted that her men of wycombe shold be tempters or tapsters of brede and ale in the fee of the same abbesse.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms163 : A Promes of tappestrs [vr. tapsterysse].
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)699 : Ther were..pursekytters, Pylary knyghtes, double tollyng myllers, Gay ioly tapsters, with hostelers of the stewes, Hoores, and baudys.
- a1525(?1427) Cov.Leet Bk.111 : Hit is ordeyned..that all maner Brewers, Tapsters, & huksters sell goode ale & sufficient.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1594 : There were..fele men of Crafte; Tauerners, tapsters.
b
- (1380) Sub.R.Oxf.in Rogers Oxf.CDoc.23 : Matillda Thornekyn, Tappestere.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.241 : He knew the tauernes..And euery hostiler and tappestere [vrr. tapestere, tampster].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3336 : Nas brewhous ne tauerne That he ne visited..Ther any gaylard tappestere [vr. stapster] was.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)277/13 : Þei han maad her owne sensualite a lady..and her owne soule þei han maad a tapster.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)486 : Tapstare: Ducillaria, propinaria, clipsidraria.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)427 : The tapster & hir Paramour, & the Hosteler of the House Sit to-gidir.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.374 : An ordre wold be hadde..To kenne a tapister fro a lady.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)274 : I haue be sethen wyth þe comyn tapster of Bury.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)729 : A tapster, a tapster! Stow, statt, stow!
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)125a : A Tapstere: Clipcsidaria.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)531 : He sytthyt with sum tapstere in þe spence.
c
- (1317) Pat.R.Edw.II695 : John le Tappistere.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 3544 : Le Tapestere.
- (1357) Cart.St.John in OHS 69106 : Hen. Tappester.
- (1378) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms91 : Beatrix Tappestere.
- (1379) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames343 : Elisota Tapester.
- (1380) Sub.R.Oxf.in Rogers Oxf.CDoc.36 : Emotta Tapster.
- (1390) Doc.Oxf.in OHS 7311 : Iohanna Tapstere.