† ˈfewterer Obs.
Forms: α. 4–5 vewter. β. 6–8 feuterer, futerer, pheu-, phewterer, 6– fewterer.
[ME. vewter and early mod.E. fewterer appear to be corrupted adoptions of AF. veutrier (= Anglo-Lat. veltrarius) in same sense, f. OF. veutre, vautre, veltre (later F. vautre) = Pr. veltre, It. veltro:—popular L. *veltrum, corruption of L. vertragum (nom. -us) greyhound, a Gaulish word, f. Celtic ver- intensive prefix + root trag- to run.]
A keeper of greyhounds. Also in a wider sense, an attendant. Also with defining word prefixed; as fox-fewterer, yeoman-fewterer.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1146 To trystors vewters ȝod. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 631 in Babees Bk. (1868) 320 Þo vewter, two cast of brede he tase, Two lesshe of grehoundes yf þat he hase. 1545 Joye Exp. Dan. iii. E v b, These pharisaicall foxe fewterers. 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. iii, And perhaps stumble upon a yeoman pheuterer, as I doe now. a 1625 Fletcher Woman's Prize ii, ii, A dry nurse to his coughs, a fewterer To such a nasty fellow. 1691 Blount Law Dict. s.v. Vautrier, Hence our corrupted word Feuterer, for a Dog-keeper. 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. i. 312 He that is chosen Fewterer, or that lets loose the Greyhounds. 1801 Sporting Mag. XVIII. 100 Feuterer, a dog-keeper. |