pillow-bere arch.
(ˈpɪləʊbɪə(r))
Forms: first element: see pillow; second, 4– -beer, 6–8 bear, (6–7 -beare), 6– -ber, -bier, (6 -beier), 5– -bere: see bear n.4 (Also 7 phillaber, 8 pillyber.)
[f. pillow n. + bear n.4]
= pillow-case.
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 694 Ne was ther swich another Pardoner For in his male he hadde a pilwe beer, Which þat he seyde, was oure lady veyl. 1480 Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV (1830) 131 Pilowe beres off fustian unstuffed iiij. 1503 in Calr. Doc. rel. Scotl. (1888) IV. 341 [For the Queen of Scots..] 2 ‘pilloberes’ [of an ell long, at 2 s. an ell]. 1519 Maldon, Essex, Liber B. lf. 160 (MS.), iiii pillows, iiii pillow⁓bers, ii coverletts. 1558 Lanc. Wills (1857) I. 176 Sixteyne pillew beares. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 25 Putte thys into a softe sack or pilow bier. 1564 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees) II. 219 A pilleber having Iesus sued vpon ytt. 1566 Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 81 A crosse crosse (sic) clothe, a pillowe beier, were sold the yeare 1560. 1598 Marston Pygmal. viii. 125 And makes him wish for such a Pillow⁓beare [rime appear]. 1640 in M{supc}Dowall Hist. Dumfries (1867) 405 Hollond shirts and phillabers..damask table-cloths. 1683 in Bedfordshire N. & Q. (1889) II. 236, I giue to my goddaughter a pair of fine pillowbears. 1743 Phil. Trans. XLII. 366 Numbers of Pillows, each with its Pillow-bier. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 2 Apr. Let. iii, Take care of..the pillyber. 1776 Anstey Election Ball Wks. (1808) 222 An obstinate bolster Which I think I have seen you attempting, my dear, In vain to cram into a small pillowbeer. 1885 Edna Lyall In Golden Days II. x. 211 A pillow-beer—friend of many a weary journey—lay hard by. |