† douzepers, n. pl. Obs. or arch.
(ˈduːzəpɛəz)
Forms: 3 dosse pers, dosseperes, dozze pers, 3–4 dusze pers, 4 dousse pers, dosze-peres, duzze peres, duze pers, dussiperes, 4–5 dusper(e)s, 5 dosipers, -perus, doseperys, dous(se)pyers, dousepers, dozepers, duseperys, ducypers, dussepers, (doþþe peres, dugeperes, duk-peris, dowchsperys, duchepers, -peiris), 6 douseperes, dowsepers, -piers, dowsipers, dowsy peiris, (dyssypers, 7 Dutchpeeres), 9 douze peers, douceperes; also (without final s) 3 duzeper, 5 dozepiere, duzepere. Rarely sing. 4 doþþeper, 4–5 doseper, 6 dowsypere, doucepere, (douch-spere).
[a. OF. douze (doce, duze) per(s, mod.F. douze pairs twelve equals, twelve peers. In English at length treated as one word, with a singular implying one of the class.]
In the Romances, the twelve peers or paladins of Charlemagne, said to be attached to his person, as being the bravest of his knights. In History, applied to the twelve great peers, spiritual and temporal, of France, supposed to represent those attributed by the romances to Charlemagne.
The historical twelve peers were orig. the Archbp. of Rheims, the Bps. of Laon, and Langres (ranking as dukes), the Bps. of Beauvais, Chalons, and Noyon (ranking as counts), the Dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, Aquitaine, the Counts of Toulouse, Flanders, Champagne. (See Du Cange s.v. Pares Franciæ.)
| c 1205 Lay. 1622 Twelfe iferan. Þa Freinsce heo cleopeden dusze pers [c 1275 dosseperes]. c 1275 Passion our Lord 3 in O.E. Misc. 37 Nis hit nouht of karlemeyne ne of þe Duzeper. c 1310 Flemish Insurr. in Pol. Songs (Camden) 190 The Kyng of Fraunce..anon Assemblede he is dousse pers. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1601 Þe twelue dosze-peres of pris. 13.. Coer de L. 12 Off Rowelond, and of Olyver And of every doseper. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 440 The duk-peris [v.r. Dutch peeres: Wynt. 4350 dowchsperys] wer Assegyt In-till egrymor. c 1400 Melayne 808 Erles, Dukes, & the xij duchepers Bothe barons and Bachelers. c 1400 Rowland & O. 16 His dusperes doghety. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 25 Where been of Fraunce all the dozepiere? 1494 Fabyan Wks. I. clv. (R.), [Charles Martel] chase xii. perys, which after some wryters, are callyd doseperys, or kyngs, of y⊇ which vi. were bisshopys, and vi. temporall lords. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. vii. xcix. (Arb.) 26 Charlemayne kynge of Fraunce With his dyssypers Rowland and Olyuer. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxi. (R.), He was crowned by the assent of the twelve dowse-piers of Fraunce. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ii. 12 Wes nocht so duchty deidis Amangis the dowsy peiris. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xvi, Oliver, man? nay, then thou art one of the Douze peers already. 1864 Skeat Uhland's Poems 350 King Charles with all his doucëperes Across the ocean sailed. |
b. Applied to other illustrious nobles, knights, or grandees. Also with sing.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 66 At Carlelele a Cristynmese he haldes..Wyth Dukez and dusperes of dyvers rewmes. a 1400 Gloss. in Rel. Ant. I. 8 Dolopes, dussiperes. a 1400 Octouian 949 Ferst they sent out a doseper. c 1440 York Myst. xxvi. 8 Nowdir with duke nor dugeperes. 1550 Bale Sel. Wks. (Parker Soc.) 317 Prelates, priests, monks, doctors, and other spiritual dowsipers. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. x. 31 Big looking like a doughty Doucepere. |