▪ I. rother Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈrɒðə(r))
Forms: α. 1 hriðer, hryþer, 1–2 hryðer, 4 riþer. β. 2–3 reðer, 4 reþer, 5–6 rether. γ. 2–3 reoðer, 3 roþer, 3– rother, 5 rodder, 6 rowder. δ. 1 hruðer, 3 ruðer, ruþer, 4, 6 ruther, 5 rudder.
[OE. hr{iacu}ðer, hr{yacu}ðer, = OFris. (h)rither, reder (NFris. ridder, redder young ox, WFris. rier heifer), a derivative from the stem hr{iacu}ð- (found in hr{iacu}ðfald, -hiorde), = OS. hrîth, for earlier *hrinþ-, which is also represented by OHG. hrind (G. rind), MLG. and MDu. rind-, rint (Du. rund). The shortening of the vowel before the ending -ther (as in mother, brother) prob. took place in later OE., with subsequent variation due to the influence of r.
It is not clear whether OE. hr{yacu}ðer is a mere variation of hr{iacu}ðer, or represents an original ablaut variant *hrunþ-.]
1. An ox; an animal of the ox kind; pl. oxen, cattle, neat.
| α 805–31 Charter in O.E. Texts 444 An hriðer duᵹunde. 971 Blickl. Hom. 199 He..ongan sceotan wiþ þæs þe he ᵹeseah þæt hryþer stondan. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 100 Ᵹenim cealfes scearn oþþe ealdes hryþeres wearm & leᵹe on. c 1050 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 341 Armenta, hryðera heorde. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1012, Hi..hine þa þær oftorfodon mid banum & mid hryðera heafdum. c 1400 Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) III. 205 Senewes of schepe and of reþeren [β. riþeren]. |
| β c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 37 Ðet oref..beð shep and reðeren and get and swin. a 1290 Leben Jesu (Horstm.) 853 Fond he þer inne..Schep and reþren, and coluerene eke. c 1306 Pol. Songs (Camden) 220 Upon a retheres hude forth he wes y-tuht. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 13 Þis ilond..bringeþ forþ..reþeren and oþer bestes. a 1400–50 Alexander 1239 Meliager with his men..Raschis with rethere & rydis bot a quyle [etc.]. 1509 Will of Myll (Somerset Ho.), Duos Retheres et viginti oues. |
| γ c 1225 Leg. Kath. 60 Þe riche reoðeren & schep..brohten to lake. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 300/11 Garganes reoþeren and oþure bestes I-nowe..to heore lesewe heom drowe. 13.. K. Alis. 4719 Men to heom threowe drit and donge, With foule ayren, with rotheres lunge. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. i. (Bodl. MS.), Bestes þat eteþ grete gras and herbes as roþeren. 1474 Waterf. Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 311 Rodders or ony othre marchaundise. 1607 Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 12 It is the Pastour Lards the rothers [em. for Brothers] sides. 1875 Parish Dict. Sussex Dial., Rother,..a horned beast. |
| δ c 1050 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 275 Þæron næs orfcynnes nan mare buton vii hruðeru. c 1205 Lay. 8106 Islaȝene weoren to þon mele twælf þusend ruðeren. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1209 King cassibel..sacrefize to hor godes..Vourti þousend of ruþeren. 1485 Waterf. Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 319 The said bouchers bye the same rudders in thar names. 1518 in Trans. Kilkenny Arch. Soc. Ser. ii. IV. 112 An Indentur..vpon ij rudders to be payed..yerly to Gerald Erle of Kildare. |
2. attrib. and
Comb., as
rother-cattle,
rother-driver,
rother-herd,
rother-soil.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. xlv. 10 Eowre sceap and eower hryðer⁓heorda. c 1000 ― Hom. I. 322 Amos hatte sum hryðer-hyrde. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 97 Amos het a reoðer heorde. 1396 Chancery Warrants file 560 Quatre boefs, pris de quarante soulds, [stolen] de Johan ap Jakke, retherdryver. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 752 The leaves of Elme are good fodder for rother cattell. 1602 Carew Cornwall 23 Beastes seruing for meate onely, are Pigs, Goates, Sheepe, and Rother cattell. 1670 Blount Glossogr. (ed. 3) s.v., Hence Rother-soyle, also used in Hereford shire, for the soyle or dung of those beasts. |
▪ II. rother obs. form of
rudder.