▪ I. ˈvaulter1 rare—0.
[f. vault v.1]
A builder of vaults.
| 1648 Hexham ii, Een Welver, an Archer, or a Vaulter. |
▪ II. vaulter2
(ˈvɔːltə(r))
Also 6–7 vauter, vawter, 7 vautor.
[f. vault v.2]
One who vaults or leaps. Also fig. (quot. 1579).
| α 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Amphippi,..vauters from one horse to an other. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 36 Euery Vawter in one blinde Tauerne or other is Tenant at will, to which shee tolleth resorte. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1278 Demetrius..was well content to heare himselfe called Jupiter καταιβάτης, that is to say, the vawter. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 226 The Numidians,..in manner of vauters,..could leap from the weary horse to a fresh. 1647 Hexham i. (Of Weights), A weight of Lead that Leapers, Vauters or Dauncers on ropes hold in their hands. |
| β 1552 Huloet, Vaulter on a horse, desultor. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Desultor, a vaulter that leapeth vp and downe from a horse. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 230 He had two Tumblers or Vaulters, one an Englishman, the other an Italian. 1694 Martens' Voy. Spitzbergen in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. II. 116 They put them upwards together, as the Vaulters do when they jump over Swords. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 258 ¶3 Why should not Rope-dancers, Vaulters, Tumblers,..and Posture-makers appear again on our Stage? 1791 Cowper Odyss. xviii. 317 Since fame reports the Trojans..nimble vaulters to the backs of steeds. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lxiv, The band of renowned Bohemian vaulters and tumblers. 1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 301/1 If you want..fame as..a vaulter, or a heaver of heavy weights, the Manhattan is your club. |
| transf. 1815 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. iv. (1816) I. 102 The encomium which he bestows upon these vigilant little vaulters. a 1825 L. Hunt To Grasshopper & Cricket 1 Green little vaulter in the sunny grass. |