Middle English Dictionary Entry
uphōlder(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | uphōlder(e n. Also uphalder, uphelder(e, uppeholder, (in surnames) hupholder(e, huphelder, opholder, ophelder; pl. upholder(e)s, etc. & (?error) ephalders. |
| Etymology | From uphōlden v.; cp. hōlder(e n. (f). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) That which physically supports something, a support;
(b) a sustainer, maintainer, preserver; also, ?one who supports another’s legal suit [last quot.];
(c) a vendor of secondhand goods; also, a maker or vendor of small goods; ?also, a craftsman who makes fabric furnishings [quot. 1474];
(d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)269/24 : Fourefotid bestis…sitten on þe forefeet…al þe body of ham in þe wiȝte þerof bowiþ kyndeliche toward þe erþe þat it nediþ to haue so meny vndirsettyngis and vpholderes.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)15/17 : Bones…ben þe fundement and þe vppeholders of alle oþere parties of a mannes bodie.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)43b/b : Þe haunch bonys…ben vpholders of alle þingis þat ben abouen whanne þat a man arisiþ.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2696 : He…Was chef diffence and protectioun, And souereynly vp-holder of þe toun.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)42.523 : This is the pastour Of god Almyht, and Eke the vpholdere Of holichirche.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)468 : To ȝov my ladi, vpholder of my life, Mekeli I þanke.
- a1525(?1439) Cov.Leet Bk.191 : They ordeyn that…suche maner vpholders within Comprehened be pursewed as they were persones sole, and onswere ffor ther owne dedez.
c
- (1309-10) in G.Otto Handwerkernamen87 : Upholder.
- (1332) Sub.R.Lond.in Unwin Finance80 : Ricardus de Chavering, uphelder.
- (1356) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.282 : Adam Wayte, upheldere.
- (1380) Sub.R.Oxf.in Rogers Oxf.CDoc.21 : De Thoma Hamond, Vpholder.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.166 : Of vpholderis [vr. ephalders] an hep…Ȝeue glotoun wiþ glad chiere good ale to hansele.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.218 : An vnredy reue þi residue shal spene…Vp-holderes on þe hul shullen haue hit to selle.
- (1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120183 : Item, that na upphalder wyrk in girdelercrafte, that es for to say castyng sadiller nayle, broches, or chapes, bot if he pay to the girdeler pageant vj d. by yere, na that he wryk na lede amanges any other metall…bot if it be in souldur.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)512 : Vpholdere, þat sellythe smal thyngys: Velaber.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)120 : The same day came good men of the Mistery of Upholders and presented…the following petition…Divers enfraunchesed in the said Citee daily usen to utter and sell…wares…belongyng to þe said Craft, as Federbeddes, pylowes, matrasses, Quysshens, Quyltes, and suche oþere.
- -?-(1413) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96120 : Johanna Calthorn, uphalder.
d
- (1258-9) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.1 : Huphelder.
- (1289) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.615 : Ranulph le Upholdere.
- (1295) in Fransson Surn.113 : Petronilla le Hupholdere.
- (1306) Court R.Ramsey124 : Robertus, filius Hugonis le Upholdere.
- (1317) in Fransson Surn.113 : Bertolomeus le Ophelder.
- (1325) Close R.Edw.II537 : Robert le Huphelder.
- (1333) in Fransson Surn.113 : Le Opholder.
- (1394) Cart.St.John in OHS 69244 : Ioh’ Hupholder.