▪ I. ferrer1 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈfɛrə(r))
[ad. OF. ferriere: see barrel-ferrer.]
a. = barrel-ferrer. b. (See quot. 1877).
| a 1483 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. 75 Ther sergeaunt [of the cellar] hathe in keepinge..ferrers and portatives. 1877 N.W. Linc. Gloss., Ferrer, a cask having iron hoops. |
▪ II. † ˈferrer2, ˈferrour Obs.
Forms: 4–8 ferrer, 4–5 ferour, 5–6 ferror, -our(e, 6 farrour, (5 ferere, -owre, ferrur, 6 farrer, ferrar).
[a. OF. ferreor, ferour (Fr. ferreur) = Sp. herrador, It. ferratore:—med.L. ferrātōr-em, agent-n. f. ferrāre to shoe horses, f. ferrum iron, in med.L. horeshoe: see farrier.]
1. A worker in iron; a smith.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 407 God is a ferour and he is Goddis instrument. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1593 Fferrers, flechours, fele men of crafte. 14.. Nominale in Wr.-Wülcker 686 Hic farrator, a ferrur. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 157/2 Ferrowre, smythe, ferrarius. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. cxxxvii. 845 The Farrour or locksmith hath an anuel. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xiv. xi. 28 Andriscus..she taught the Ferrars craft for to get his living. |
2. = farrier 1.
| 1426 E.E. Wills (1882) 76, I make myn executours..Iohn Carpinter, comoun clerk, & Iohn Spore, ferroure. c 1515 Cocke Lorell's B. (Percy Soc.) 9 Brydel bytters, blacke smythes, and ferrars. 1552 Huloet, Ferroure, horseleche, or smythe whyche cureth horses, veterinarius medicus. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 480 Poppæa..was knowne to cause her Ferrers ordinarily to shooe her coach-horses..with cleane gold. 1798 Sporting Mag. XII. 21 Encouraged by the nobility..as riding-masters or ferrers. |
3. With n. prefixed as sergeant-ferrer, valet-ferrer, yeoman-ferrer: An official who had care of the horses in a large household.
| 1455 Househ. Ord. 23 In th' office of the Stable—1 Sergeant Ferrour—1 Yoman Ferrour. a 1512 Fabyan Chron. vii. 686 A tall yoman, somtyme sergeaunt ferrour to the kyng. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 12 §16 The serieant or chief ferrour..shall..bringe with him the serynge yrons. 1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edw. II, §56 (1876) 44 He shal haue a vallet ferrour under him to shue the horses. |