▪ I. macer1
(ˈmeɪsə(r))
Also Sc. 5–6 maser(e, masar, 6 messer, measer, masser, 6–7 maissar, -er.
[a. OF. maissier, massier, f. masse mace n.1: see -er2.]
A mace-bearer; spec. in Scotland, an official who keeps order in courts of law.
| 13.. St. Erkenwolde 143 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 269 Þ e maire with mony maȝti mene & macers before hyme. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 76 Meires and maceres that menes ben bitwene The kynge and the comune to kepe the lawes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 319/1 Macer, or he þat berythe mace, scept(r)iger. c 1470 Henry Wallace vii. 304 Thar folowed him fyfteyn Wicht, wallyt men..With a maser [ed. 1570 maissar], to tach him to the law. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 275 Sextie that tyme quhilk war summond aw Be ane masar for to cum to the law. 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 26 Heraldis, pursevantis, masseries, and utheris officiaris of armes. 1550 Ibid. 105 Ane messer or uthir officiar of armes. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 1065 A meas{supr} vpon the gait him mett. 1679 Royal Proclam. in Lond. Gaz. No 1406/1 Charles by the Grace of God [etc.]..To Our Lyon King at Arms, and his Brethren Heraulds, Macers, or Messengers at Arms. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xxi. 237 Thomas Lever, S.T.B. formerly of S. John's College and sometime macer (as was the Bishop himself). 1710 Chamberlayne's St. Gt. Brit. ii. iii. (ed. 23) 662 Macers of Exchequer. Sal. 50l. per Ann. each. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 7 The Justice-Court has three Macers... The Macer's chief Business is, to execute all Indictments, Criminal Letters, &c. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. v, Non omnia—as Mr. Crossmy⁓loof said, when he was called by two macers at once, non omnia possumus—pessimus—possimis. 1893 Stevenson Catriona 189 And the very macer cried ‘Cruachan’. |
b. attrib.: † macer wand, a mace.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 677 [He] Arreistit thame, syne with ane maissar wand, Or tha passit out of Northumberland, Richt mony thousand of thame thair wes slane. |
Hence ˈmacership.
| 1883 Edinb. Daily Rev. 6 June 2/5 Mr. G. G. has been appointed..to the vacant macership in the Court of Session. |
▪ II. macer2 slang.
(ˈmeɪsə(r))
[f. mace v.3 + -er1.]
A swindler.
| 1819 Sporting Mag. V. 123 The cup-and-ball Macers. 1870 Steinmetz Gaming Table II. vii. 220 A well known macer, who was celebrated for slipping an ‘old gentleman’ (a long card) into the pack. |