† ˈscorchvillein Obs.
[a. AF. *escorche-villein, f. OF. escorchier (mod.F. écorcher) to flay + villein.]
A ‘flay-villein’; an oppressive lord.
| 1577–87 Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. v. 32/1 in Holinshed. [The nickname of Abp. Henry de Loundres; Stanyhurst tells a story to connect it with scorch v.1] |