▪ I. † ˈspicer1 Obs.
Also 4 spiser, 4–5 spyser; 4 spycier, 4–6 spycer.
[ad. OF. espicier (mod.F. épicier), f. espice spice n. Cf. MDu. and MHG. specier (G. dial. spezier).]
A dealer in spices; an apothecary or druggist.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 11204 Willam þe spicer & geffray of hencsei. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xliv. 10 Goed odurs of vertus ere takynd bi þere spiseres. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 121 Out of a Ragged Roote..Springeþ and spredeþ þat spicers desyreþ. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 67 Þanne I sente to þe spiceris schoppe þat was a greet weye fro me. 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. iv. (1883) 118 The pawon that is sette to fore the quene signefyeth the phisicyen Spicer and Apotyquaire. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 512 A spycer or grocer namyd Petyr Gylle, of Paris. 1566 Securis Detect. D v, Certayne, which are called spicers, or Poticaries. 1609 D. Rogers in Digby Myst. (1882) p. xxi, Mercers, Spicers, bringe forthe y⊇ 3. kinges of Collen. |
| attrib. 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 692 Hec apoticaria, a spyser wyfe. Ibid. 730 Hec apoteca, a spycerschope. |
▪ II. spicer2 rare—0.
(ˈspaɪsə(r))
[f. spice v.]
‘One that seasons with spice’ (Webster, 1828–32).