Middle English Dictionary Entry
washer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | washer(e n. Also washour, wesher, whasher, (in surnames) wascere, wassere, wassar, waisher & (error) wasthere. |
| Etymology | From washen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who treats or washes coins with a corrosive solution to remove some of the precious metal; coin ~;
(b) a bird, prob. one of the genus Motacilla, a wagtail;—?error for washe-sterte n.;
(c) a tool of some sort, prob. a blacksmith’s device for sprinkling water on a fire or tongs used for quenching hot metal;
(d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1450) Oath Bk.Colchester3 : Ye schal enquere…also if there be any clippers or wasshers of the Kyngs coyne.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)19/9 : We denounce acursed alle makerys of fals monye, & clypperys, & wasscherys.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)681 : Ther were…brybores…false vsurers…coyn wasshers & clyppers…with gret extorcioners.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.165 : La vanele e le pounzot [glossed:] wasthere [Koch reads: wassher], En mores sunt lur riot.
c
- (1346) *Acc.Exch.K.R.470/17 [OD col.] : De…v Cheynes pro barr[a] continentibus L Linches, v paribus tenellarum, ij Whashers.
- (1363) in Salzman Building in Engl.347 : [One…inventory of the smith’s tools…contains an] anuell…3 nailtol’…[a] wassher…[a] herthstaf.
- (1384) *For.Acc.(PRO) 20 C dorso [OD col.] : Reddit compotum de…ij pynsours ferri…j bighorne ij wasshours.
- (1473) in Salzman Building in Engl.348 : [The…inventory contains]…smythesbelowes…slegges…stelyng tonges…[and a] wesher.
d
- (1293) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames372 : Henry le Wassere.
- (1295) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames372 : Alan le Wascere.
- (1297) in Fransson Surn.110 : Will. le Wassar.
- (1310) in Fransson Surn.110 : Beatr. le Waschere.
- (1350) in Fransson Surn.110 : Steph. Wascher.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5165 : Willelmus Wasshere.
- -?-(1357-8) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9652 : Hayne Wayscher.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. washer.