▪ I. † custrel Obs. exc. Hist.
(ˈkʌstrəl)
Also 6 coustrell, 6–7 costrel(l, costerel. See also coistrel.
[Coincides in meaning with OF. coustillier, -illeur, lit. a soldier armed with a coustille (see custile), hence, ‘an esquire of the bodie, an armour-bearer vnto a knight, the seruant of a man at armes; also, a groome of a stable’ (Cotgr.). But the regular Eng. repr. of this would be custeler, custler, and it is not easy to account for the metathesis of this to custrel. The secondary sense ‘knave, base fellow’ (commoner in the variant coistrel) is not found with Fr. coustillier, and seems to have arisen from association with custron.]
1. An attendant on a knight or man-at-arms.
| 1492 in Rymer Fœdera (1710) XII. 478 Every of theim havyng with him his Custrell and his Page. 1495 Hen. VII in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 11. I. 21 To make as many speres with their custrelles and di.lances..as ye can furnisshe. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 512 The Kyng ordeined 50 gentlemenne to bee speres, euery of theim to haue an Archer a Demilaunce and a Custrell. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. i. xix. (1609) 26 They [Esquires] were at the first Costerels or the bearers of the Armes of Lords or Knights. 1613–18 Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626) 93 Brabansons (which were certayne Mercenaries commonly called the Routs or Costerels). 1830 James Darnley xi. 50/2 Now promoted to the dignity of custrel, or shield-bearer. |
2. A term of reproach: Knave, base fellow. See coistrel 2.
| 1581–1783 [see coistrel]. 1608 Shakes. Per. iv. vi. 176 Thou art the damned doorkeeper to every custerel [printed cusherel, Globe coistrel], that comes enquiring for his Tib. |
▪ II. custrel
var. of costrel1, Obs.