† ˈcustron Obs.
Forms: 4 quystron, qwistron, 4–6 quystroun(e, 5 quisteroun, quysteroun, (?) qwistoune, custrun, 6 coystrowne; Sc. custron, 6–7 -oun, 7 -one.
[a. OF. coistron, coestron, quistron, coitron, in nom. case questres, quaistre, scullion:—late L. cocistrōnem, nom. cocistro ‘tabernarius’ (Papias).]
1. A scullion, a kitchen-knave; hence a boy or lad of low birth, base-born fellow, ‘cad’, vagabond.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 2511 Ther n'as knave, no quystron, That he no hadde god waryson. a 1400 Octouian 154 Sche seyth a boy lothly of face, A quysteroun..And seyde: ‘Hark, thou cokes knaue’. a 1400–50 Alexander 3303 Lo! so þe quele of qwistrunnes [printed qwistrumnes] my qualite has changid! c 1400 Rom. Rose 886 This God of Love of his fasoun Was lyke no knave, ne quystroun. a 1529 Skelton (title), Agaynste a comely coystrowne, that curyowsly chawntyd, and curryshly cowntred. ― Howe douty D. Albany 171 Suche a foule coystrowne. 1530 Lyndesay Test. Papyngo 390 Pandaris, pykthankis, custronis, and clatteraris Loupis vp frome laddis, sine lychtis amang lardis. a 1605 Polwart in Montgomerie Flyting 128 Vile vagabound..Custroun! |
2. = custrel 1.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 503 The sperys to haue for them and theyr custrun euery day halfe a floreyn. |