Middle English Dictionary Entry
cartē̆r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cartē̆r n. Also karter, kerter; careter, -ier; chareter, charetier, charter, chereter. |
| Etymology | Partly AF careter & CF charretier, partly from ME cart . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The driver of a cart or coach; a carter, coachman; also fig.; (b) ~ stable, a stable for cart horses; lavedies ~, ladies' coachman; (c) as personal name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1186 : 'Drah to þe,' cwað þe cartare [Jes-O: kartere].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)143 : Charetters: carteres [vr. carteirs].
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7427 : Þe carters euerichon, Of liif days þai brouȝten anon.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)160/4 : Discrecion and scele, þet is þe cartere of uirtues.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)886 : Chareter ad sa reorte; Carter hathe his wippe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2022 : The cartere ouerryden with his carte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1540 : They saye a cart that charged was with hey, Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester10 : The owener schal payen for the godes and the cartere fre.
- (1426-7) Rec.St.Mary at Hill64 : Also payd for cariage to a carter, iij d.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)102 : The cartere dremeth how his cartes gon.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)62 : Cartare: Bigarius.
- (1444) RParl.5.112b : A man Reper or Carter, iii d. by the day.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4859 : Þe cartere les his hand ryȝt.
- (1460) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1306 : All carterys and carmen that usyth to drawe dung out of the towne.
- (1463-4) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)48 : And that þe Carters and porters be compelled to serve the people in their Cariages and Portages.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14614 : And the cartere vp hym hente, In-to the carte anon hym threwh.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)45 : Ploughe men, carteris, and oþer seruantes.
b
- (1327) Pat.R.Edw.III349 : [John] Thelavediescartere [Engayne].
- (1350) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.92 : [A certain small house called] le Carterestable.
c
- (1193) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.311 : Rannulfus le caretier.
- (c1200) Doc.Ireland in RS 5322 : Osebertus careter.
- (1207) Fine R.King John455 : Robertus Caretar.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch44/34 : De Willelmo carter pro terra de Oxeneburne.
- (1224) Pat.R.Hen.III479 : Henricus le Charetier.
- (1226) Close R.Tower 2148 : Reginaldus Cartere de Corsham.
- (1229) Close R.Hen.III157 : Willelmus Caretter.
- (1243) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms92-3 : Osbert le Carter. Rob. le Chareter.
- (1256) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms93 : Rob. le Karreter.
- (1258) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms93 : Henr. le Chereter.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2341 : Adam Carter.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2750 : Adam Karter.
- (1281) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms92-3 : Steph. le Charter.
- (1296) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms92-3 : Hug. le Cartar. Will. le Kertere.
- (1301) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms92-3 : Rob. le Charter. Joh. le Careter.
- (1301-2) Rec.Crondal in Hamp.RS 3417 : Willelmus le Cartare tenet quartam partem unius virgatæ terræ.
- (c1311) Rec.Norwich 1373 : Galf. le Cartere de Kyrkeby.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3222 : Alicia Cartere.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms92 : Amicia Karter. le Charter. Rob. le Cartere. Will. le Kartare.
- (1346) Feudal Aids 3494 : Johannes Cartere.
- (1364-5) Rec.Crondal in Hamp.RS 345 : Robertus Cartere.
- (c1387) Cart.Oseney in OHS 91181 : Ric. Carter.
- (1425-6) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.81156 : Item, Nicholao Karter pro cariagio ejusdem, 15 d.
- (1448) Will York in Sur.Soc.45114 : Johanne Carter.
2.
A charioteer.
Associated quotations
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 115)24 : Crætwisa: kertare.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21287 : The carter self [Trin-C: charietere] is iesus crist.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)8b/a : Auriga, rector, chori: or a carter.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.99 : Men seen the cartere [L aurigae] worken in the tornynge or in atemprynge or adressynge of hise cartes or chariottes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21b : A Carter: Auriga.
3.
A maker or mender of carts, a cartwright.
Associated quotations
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)35b : Þey hauiþ oþer men of craft, as charitores, carteres, whelemakers, and bynderes, þat boþe konne make new her chares, cartis and waynes, and also amende þe olde when þei ben apeired.