Middle English Dictionary Entry
custumẹ̄r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | custumẹ̄r n. Also customer, -emer, coustomer. |
| Etymology | OF co(u)stum(i)er n. & adj.; cp. also AL custumārius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A customs official, collector of customs; (b) a tradesman liable for the payment of a tax.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester10 : A custumer no schal nouȝt takyn of no man for non vitayles to his houshold, no to arayment of hys body.
- (1422) Proc.Privy C.3.17 : The proffitz of the Kyng and þe revenues of þe roiaume ben gretly encresed or anientisched by coustumers, countrollours, poisours, serchers, and all such oþer officers.
- (1425) RParl.4.294a : Yf any Custumer, Collectour, or Countroller of your Custumes..in any port or place of Engeland be duely and lawefully atteynted or convyct..of fals conselement of your Custume..duely entred and paied by any Marchant [etc.].
- (1430-1) RParl.4.369b : That alle the saide Graunte of alle the saide Subsidies..be conteined and expressed in every Patent or Commission of the Custumers of every Port of this saide Roialme.
- (1437) RParl.4.508b : Yif any of ye said Merchants liketh to leve his said money here in this Roialme not employed, and sette seurtee suffisant to ye Kynges Custumers yerfore [etc.].
- (1439) RParl.5.31a : To ordeigne that the Custumers and Countrollour in every Port where Corne neds muste be had unto the Kyngs peple have power..to suffre alle and every the Kyngs Liege man to lede by water alle manere of Cornes out of on Towne or Shire into another.
- (1444) RParl.5.117a : For the more sikrenesse of the Custumers of oure Soverayn Lord the Kyng in the Citee of London..they will delyver no Billes to the Merchauntz wherby theire Wynes myght come to lond, unto the tyme that thei have paide..the Gauge peny of every Tonne that the Merchaunt hath entred.
- (1449) RParl.5.150a : That every Custumer, Countroller, Sercheour and Surveiour, which by his knawelegge suffreth or admitteth any Woll, Wolfell or Tynne to be shipped..to any other Port or Place than to the saide Staple [etc.].
- (1464) RParl.5.509b : The seid Custumers or Collectours, duely and truely delyver to the seid Tresorer and Vitailler [of Calais]..or the Attorney or Attorneys of either of theym..the seid part of the seid Subsidies of Woll.
b
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)189 : Of the seller, ȝif he be custummer..of the beyer, ȝif he be merchaunt.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)201 : Of eche baxter custummer [OF pestours..custumers]..or hem that comyn in to merket with her bred..they shal payen the ful custum.
2.
(a) One who customarily buys from a particular tradesman or guild; a customer; (b) a customary tenant [see custumarie]; (c) a regular employee; (d) one who frequents (a place).
Associated quotations
a
- (1409) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125177 : It is ordand that no man of the sayd crafte take no hors for to sho or hele of no man that is customer to any of the sayd crafte, and he haf knawlege that the said customer awe any monee to the tother man.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)180 : Custummere þat byythe of a-nother, as ȝerne byers.
- (1455) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1288 : That..women that syllyn ale..schold syll oute to hare custummerys every dosseyn for xviii d.
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.182 : Yif the cardwiredrawer were..disseyued withe ontrewe wire he wolde be warre..And then the smythier, lest he lost his Custemers, wolde make true goode.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)111 : Custummere: Custumarius, usucaptor, consuetudinarius.
c
- a1450 Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12066 : Whylk of us hafe a customer wyrkand wyth hym, of what craft so ever he be, and awe hym mony for hys werk, and..wyll noght pay it [etc.].
d
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)12 : To that ende also that thilke vntrewe that thou hast..be no customere to come there as thow art.