Middle English Dictionary Entry
tā̆stǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tā̆stǒur n. Also tastoure, -ure & taster. |
| Etymology | OF tastëor, tasteur, AF taster; also cp. AL tastor, -ōris & ME tā̆sten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who perceives something by the sense of taste, a taster; (b) a domestic officer who tastes food to insure its wholesomeness or that it is not poisoned; also, an official who tastes ale to assess its quality; ale ~; (c) one who partakes of food or drink; (d) fig. one who experiences or partakes of some spiritual fulfillment.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)245 : Þese tokenys..and signes..be maad to remembre..seers or heerers or touchers or smellers or tasters into þo þingis for whiche þingis þei weren ordeyned.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.197 : A monk..made a drink of venym..and drank to þe kyng as it were his tastour.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1298 : Mesour was for his mouth botleer, And his tastour was attemperaunce.
- (a1500) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8562 : The sayd Burgese schall chese in your cowrte two ale tastars, ye qwhyche two tastars..schall taste the ale of all common brewers every weke, and yai fynde any ale not sufficiant for j peny a galon, than ye sayd tasturs schall sett it at iij farthynges j galon.
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)31b/a : Gusto: a swolewer or a tasture.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)487 : Taastowre: Gustator, ambro, in ambrosia.
d
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)28/34 : Ȝe mown not ben..trewe taasters ne sauoreris of þe feiþ.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)217/2 : Þis inparfiȝt vnyoun ledith þe soule for to resceyue euerlastynge..perfeccioun..where it schal taaste wiþ my verry taasteris me, eendelees liif, and mooste souereyn euerlastynge good.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)244/8 : Þis deuoute soule..bihelde contemplatiifly in þe sooþfastnesse of him, in þe whiche sooþfastnes sche say vertues schyne in verry taasteris.
2.
A shallow cup.
Associated quotations
- (1383) Rec.Norwich 225 : Tres pecias et tastour argentea.
- (1420) EEWills46/24 : I ȝeve to William Rodeley..a tastour of seluer with myn owne merke ymade in þe bottom.
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61172 : iij tastours [F Tasters] of silver playn; j litell tastour of silver for Rose Watter.
3.
A surgical probe.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)89b/b : Holde faste þe lippes of þe wounde to gider with þi tastour.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)93a/b : Þu schalt take a tastour..& put it atwixe þe lippes of þe wounde and lifte vppe þat partie þat is depressed.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)95a/b : It is good þat a Surgene..serche wiþ his tastoure [*Mondeville 157b/a: tent] no wounde þat passes þurȝoute þe braine panne.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)292/21 : It is to take hede þat..the tastour [*Ch.(1): taste; L tasta] or any serchour þe whiche schal be put in be ypersed in þe ende to þe maner of a nedel.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)297/19 : Put in a tastour of tree vnto þe roote.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)9/9 : Þe instrumentis of Cirurgiens..ben manye..Summe ben to taste wiþ-al, as ben tastouris & sercheris.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)162a/b : Smyte þe bare brayne panne wiþ þi tasturis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. taster.