ˈpothecary Now only dial.
Forms: α. 4–5 potecarie, 4–7 -cary(e, 5 -kary, 6 -cari; 5–6 potycary(e; 6 poticarie, -carye, 6–7 (9 dial.) -cary; 7 pottecary, -icary. β. 6–7 pothicary, 7 pothecarie, 7–8 (9 dial.) -cary, 8–9 'pothecary.
See also prec. Aphetic form of apothecary, formerly in common use.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 524 (Camb.) And forth he goth no lengere wolde he tarye In-to the toun vn-to a potecarye [so Corp., Lansd., Harl.; Ellesm., Hengw., apothecarie; Petw. apot-]. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 24210 Sondry lettuaryes Maked at the potycaryes. 1530 Palsgr. 257/1 Potycary that selleth medycins, apothecayre. 1551 Turner Herbal i. Prol. A iij b, If the potecari..is ignorant in herbes. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 98 Abundance of Alloes.., so much esteemed by our Pothecaries. 1668–9 Pepys Diary 8 Feb., Going to visit Roger Pepys, at the pothecary's in King's Street. 1720 W. Stukeley in Mem. (Surtees) I. 112 A league between a few doctors, poticarys, and surgeons, who play into one anothers hands. 1820 Southey Devil's Walk vii, He saw a Pothecary, on a white horse, Ride by on his vocation. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Poticary. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Potecary, apothecary... Not now of common use..but I have heard it used disparagingly. |
b. attrib. quasi-adj.
| 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 40 §2 Suche poticary wares drugges and stuffes. 1558 W. Bullein Govt. Health 111 Who liueth..so euill as these pothicary men? 1607 Chapman Bussy D'Ambois v. i. Plays 1873 II. 90 If I scape Monsieurs Pothecarie Shops. 1614 Markham Cheap Husb. To Rdr., Yet have I seene smiths so unprovided of Pothecary simples. |