provant, n.
(ˈprɒvənt)
Also 5–7 provent(e.
[app. a. MLG. provant, later form of provande provand; perh. sometimes confounded with provent n. Formerly proˈvant.]
1. Provand, provender; an allowance of food.
| c 1450 Mankind 61 in Macro Plays, The chaff, to horse xall be goode provente; When a man ys for-colde, þe straw may be brent. 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 22 From the flesh pots of Egipt, to the Prouant of the Lowe Countreyes. a 1623 Fletcher Love's Cure ii. i, One peaze was a souldier's provant a whole day, at the destruction of Jerusalem. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 34 On the Shoulders of the Coolies they load their Provant, and what Moveables necessary. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. vi. viii. (1861) 224 It severed off a deep coat pocket, stored with bread and cheese, which provant rolling among the armies, occasioned a fearful scrambling between the Swedes and Dutchmen. 1885 Burton Arab. Nts. (1887) III. 96 Then she applied herself to making ready the wants of the way, to wit provaunt and provender. |
† 2. One who deals in provant; a sutler. Obs.
| 1608 Beaum. & Fl. Four Plays in One i. i, Oh, gods of Rome, was Nicodemus To bear these braveries from a poor provant! |
3. attrib. or as adj. a. Of or belonging to the provant or soldier's allowance; hence, of common or inferior quality. (Cf. ammunition n. 3.) arch.
| 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iii. i, Step... He swore it was a Toledo. Bob. A poor provant rapier, no better. 1627 Hakewill Apol. (1630) 118 The provant wine ordained for the army being frozen, was divided with hatchets. 1628 R. S. Counter-Scuffle C j, Commanders, That hither come, compell'd by want, With rustie Swords, and Suits Prouant. a 1639 Webster Appius & Virg. i. iv, All our provant apparel's torn to rags. [1819 Scott Leg. Montrose ii, The good wheaten loaves of the Flemings were better than the provant rye-bread of the Swede. 1863 Sala Capt. Dangerous I. i. 16 Those that handle the backsword and are quick at finish with the provant rapier.] |
† b. That serves or engages for provant; mercenary; also in Comb. as provant-man, a mercenary. Obs.
| c 1624 Lushington Resurr. Serm. (1659) 43 Why yet do they say they were asleep? The reason is, they are..mercenary Souldiers, hired to it by the Priests with a large piece of money. The Provantman will undertake to say any thing, yea, to do any thing for money. 1663 Killigrew Parson's Wed. i. i, Hang him, lean, mercenary, provant Rogue. |
Hence † provant v. trans., to provision. Obs.
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuff 6 Yarmouth..should not onely supply her inhabitants with plentifull purueyance of sustenance, but prouant and victuall moreouer this monstrous army of strangers. |