▪ I. micher, n. Now dial.
(ˈmɪtʃə(r))
Forms: 3 muchare, 4–5 mycher, 4–6 michare, 6 moicher, mychare, 4, 6 michir, 7 meecher, mitcher, 4– micher.
[Early ME. muchare, app. a. OF. *muchere, muchëor, agent.-n. f. mucher mitch v. (which is not recorded in Eng. till much later).]
1. A secret or petty thief. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 150 Þis world..is al biset of helle muchares þet robbeð al þe gold-hordes þet heo muwen under⁓ȝiten. c 1357 Lay Folks Catech. (L.) 825 Who brekys þe seuynt comaundement, Mechers, Robbers and extorcioners. a 1400–50 Alexander 3541 To þis michare out of Messe⁓done þis mandment I write. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xxvii. 107 (Harl. MS.) To slepe, when oþere men wakithe, as dothe thevis and mychers. 1530 Palsgr. 244/1 Mecher a lytell thefe, laronceav. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 204 Where is Miser and Micher Micheas? where doth he now micher? 1563–83 Foxe A. & M. II. 804/2 Callyng him [sc. Becket] micher and theefe, for that hee wrought by craftes and imaginations. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 102 This [Fence] makes a speedy shelter for a Garden from Winds, Beasts, or such like injuries, rather than from rude Michers. 1787 Grose Provinc. Gloss., Michers, thieves, pilferers. Norf. 1823 Scott Peveril xxvii, Thou art turned micher as well as padder—Canst both rob a man and kidnap him! |
† 2. One who goes ‘sneaking about’ for dishonest or improper purposes; esp. in 16–17th c., a pander or go-between. Obs.
| 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 687/1 Hic circumforarius, a mycher. c 1530 Hyckescorner 378 (Manly) Wanton wenches, and also mychers, With many other of the devylles offycers. 1547–64 Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 128 Hee detesteth & vtterly abhorreth the whole brood of priuie michers, secret vnderminers, hypocrites, & double dealers. a 1550 Image Ipocr. i. in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 419 Oh ye kynde of vipers,..That haue so many miters! And yett ye be but mychers. a 1619 Fletcher Bonduca i. ii, It may be a whore too; say it be: come, meecher, Thou shalt have both [drink and whore]. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Agst. Cursing & Swearing Wks. i. 48/2 He is altogether ashamed, and like a Micher muffles his face in his hat. |
† b. One who pretends poverty. Obs.
| 1611 Cotgr., Senaud..a rich micher, a rich man that pretends himselfe to be verie poore. 1696 Phillips, A Micher, a covetous Person, a niggardly Pinch-penny. |
3. A truant; one who improperly absents himself.
| 1530 Palsgr. 245/1 Michar, bvissonnier. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 577/1 He like a mycher and a trewant, played at buckle pitte by the way. 1562 Cooper Answ. Def. Truth 122 They be self will moichers, they be not diligent scholers, that leauyng their maisters teachyng will folow their owne interpretacions. 1594 Lyly Moth. Bomb. i. iii. 191 How like a micher he standes, as though he had trewanted from honestie! 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 450 Shall the blessed Sonne of Heauen proue a Micher, and eate Black-berryes? 1775 Ash, Micher, a lazy loitering fellow, one who keeps out of sight to avoid working. 1840 Hood Friend in Need Wks. 1862 V. 275 When a young micher plays truant, it is not for a lounge about the homestead. 1891 S. Mostyn Curatica 67 My schoolmaster..who had gained a high reputation for his skill in dealing with the ‘micher’. |
4. Comb., as micher-like adv.
| 1586 B. Young Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iv. 194 Hee hath dronke so micherlike [It. furtivamente], as though he were none of this companie. |
▪ II. † ˈmicher, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. micher n.]
intr. To sneak. Hence † ˈmichering ppl. a.
| c 1555 [see micher n. 1]. 1615 W. Hull Mirr. Maiestie 6 One meechering hypocrite crept into the marriage feast, with-out his wedding garment. |