▪ I. verser1
(ˈvɜːsə(r))
[f. verse v.1 + -er1. Cf. versyowre s.v. versifier 1 α, quot. c 1440.]
A writer of verse; a verseman, versifier.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad xiii. Comm., Such as abuse the name of Critics as many versers do of poets. 1619 Drummond of Hawthornden Conv. w. Ben Jonson Wks. (1711) 225 He thought not Bartas a poet, but a verser; because he wrote not fiction. 1644–58 Cleveland Gen. Poems (1677) 63 O That I could but vote my self a Poet,..Or like the Doctors Militant could get Dubb'd at adventure Verser Banneret. 1854 Mrs. Oliphant Magd. Hepburn I. 9 The archer Simon,..a verser as much as a bowman. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 21 Aug. 4/1 The invidious task of separating the poets from the versers. |
▪ II. † ˈverser2 Cant.
[Cf. verse v.3]
One of a gang of cozeners or swindlers (see quots.).
| c 1550 Dice-Play (Percy Soc.) 38 He lightly hath in his company a man of more worship than himself, that hath the countenance of a possessioner of land, and he is called the verser. 1591 Greene Discov. Cosenage 1 There bee requisite effectually to act the Art of Conny-catching, three seuerall parties: The Setter, the Verser, and the Barnackle. Ibid. 3 Imagine the Connie is in the Tauerne, then sits down the Verser, and saith to the Setter, what sirha, wilt thou giue mee a quart of wine, or shall I giue thee one? [etc.]. 1606 Chapman Mons. D'Ol. iv. i. F iij b, D'Ol. Can he verse? Pac. I, and sett too, my Lord; Hee's both a Setter and a Verser. |