Middle English Dictionary Entry
walker(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | walker(e n.(2) Also walkar, (in surname) waliker. |
| Etymology | OE wealcere |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A fuller of cloth; ~ erthe, walkeres clei, fuller’s earth; ~ perke (staf, stang), walkeres perche (staf), a bar used to support cloth during the process of nap-raising; ?also, a staff or club used in fulling cloth by hand;
(b) as surname and in place names.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.57 : At a walkeres [Ld: follares] hous his in he nom.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 9.2 : His clothis ben maad schynynge and white ful moche as snow, and which maner clothis a fullere, or walkere of cloth, may not make white on erthe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.409 : Firste þe Iewes stened þis Iames…and aftirward þey smyte out his brayn wiþ a walkere his perche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)206a/b : A certeyn maner þer of [brimstone] is y-cleped ‘gleba’, as it were walkers cley, and serueþ oonliche to walkeres vse.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)21144 : A wicked iuu…Smate him wid a walker stang [Trin-C: staue].
- (1403) in Rec.B.Nottingham 220 : Unum stryk de walkerherth, pretii xviij d.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)56/255 : A walker perk byside him stode.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)193/1 : Lede þat lippe to þat oþer lippe and ficche it also in þat lippe as walkers doo.
- (1459) Act Ripon in Sur.Soc.6484 : Ricardus Bramhowe de Ripon, walkar.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)135a : A Walker: fullo.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)140/24 : A curset man…wyth a walkerys staf smot hym on þe hed.
- a1525(?1437) Cov.Leet Bk.187 : The orden that euery walker…walke no Cloth & wete hym, but yeff the seyde Cloth bere the lengeth off xxiiij yerdes atte leste…and yeff so be that hit wol-not bere the seyde lengeth, than that the walker Teynter hym out to the lengethe off xv yerdes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1587 : There were stallis by þe strete…Werkmen into won…Wrightes, websters, walkers of clothe.
- -?-(1368-9) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9665 : Thomas de Escryk, walker.
b
- (1224) Close R.Tower 1597b : Willielmus Waliker.
- (c1250) EPNSoc.58 (Lin.)107 : Walkergate.
- (1254) Close R.Hen.III150 : Willelmus le Walkere.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2135 : Mariota le Walker.
- (1324) Plea R.Edw.II in WSAS 1047 : Walker, Ralph le.
- (1327) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)196 : Walkergate.
- (1355) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)196 : Walkerbek.
- (1404) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23126 : Thomas Walkere.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)456 : Ioh’n Walkere.
- (1459) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)40 : Walkergate.