Middle English Dictionary Entry
tester n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tester n.(1) Also testir, testo(u)r, testur(e, testre, tēster, teister & (error) testurere. |
| Etymology | ML testura & OF tester, AF testre, teister. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The high headboard of a bed upon which a canopy rests or from which it extends; the wooden supports or framework for a canopy; (b) the wooden or fabric canopy of a bed; (c) the frame of a canopy over a church sepulcher.
Associated quotations
a
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.88 : [A] testour [with a half] seler [of a bed].
- (1391) Will York in Sur.Soc.4150 : Unum lectum..cum cellatura et testir.
- (1404) MSS Middleton in HMC102 : Lego Willelmo..unum lectum rubeum secundum meliorem, videlicet cum uno tester et dimidio celer.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4571 : Pro j testure et j celour, rubiis et viridibus.
- (1432) Will York in Sur.Soc.3024 : Lego..unum coveryng, selour, unum testor, et tres qwyshyns.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)489 : Teester, or tethtere of a bed: Capitellum.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : Item, I bequeth to Johanne Dedik all the bed in the chapell chambr with the testur, selur, curtyn, and custurs of the same chaumbr of stayned werk.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4914 : Þe testre trased full of trones with trimballand wingis, Þe silloure full of Seraphens..With curtyns all of clene silke.
- (1454) EEWills133/1 : Y bequethe to my cosyn..my bed of grene sylke, wiþ the testour & Canape ther-to.
- (1462) Paston (EETS)1.108 : On hooll bed of aras of the largest assise, seler, tester, and coueryng.
- (1480) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.137 : I bequethe to William Walgrave my best bedde, that is to wite, a Federbed, a bolster, a peice fustians, ij paire Shetes, a keverlide, the Celer and Tester, and iij Curteyns.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)1490 : Hur bede was off asȝure With testur and celure With a bryȝt bordure.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)1501 : Þer was at hur testurere [?read: testere] Þe kyngus owun banere; Was neuere bede rychere.
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Jul C.6)387 : There was ordeined a bed for hym selff of as good downe as coulde be thought..cloth of gold furred with ermyne, ye tester and ye seler also sheving [?read: shining] clothe of gold.
b
- (1360) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.li : Camera..Item..ij canevas', ij coverlettes, cum ij testers, iij chalons.
- (1367) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.73 : [1 coverture]: coopertura [with a] tester..[1 coverture with a] tester [of red colour].
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)49/16 : Þou schalt not fynde aboute Marie and hure childe none gaiȝe couerelites ne testres, curtynes, docers, quischines.
- (1419) *Will Bury155a : An eld matras, & a peyntyd materas; also a bed with leberdys hedys, with þe tester; also a grene couerlyth sengle & a chalon.
- (1425) *Indent.Elyngham (Add Charter 62408) : A secunde bede of rede worstede wyth a teyster, ij blankettys, ij shetys, and a matras jn the hall.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30180 : Lego..iij qwirteyns paled cum j testour et j coveryng paled.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)434 : Þe same synne is in aparel of chaumbre, as in proud beddis, testeris, & curteyns.
c
- (?1474) Stonor1.146 : Item, j seler and j testur of whyte lynone for þe sepulture.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1455) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93353 : Item..ij. blankettes, j. olde paled helyng, with celer and tester of þe same.
Note: Additional quote(s) sense 1.(a)