crier
(ˈkraɪə(r))
Forms: 4–5 criere, -are, -our, cryour, 5–6 cryar, 6 criar, 5–9 cryer, 4– crier.
[ME. criere, a. OF. criere, nom. of crieur, agent-n. f. crier to cry: see -er.]
1. gen. One who cries.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 11 Joon was a vois of a Criere in desert. 1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 105 You are none of these cryers vnto God. 1748 Richardson in Four C. Eng. Lett. 196 Simplicity is all their cry; yet hardly do these criers know what they mean by the noble word. 1767 S. Paterson Another Trav. II. 5 Some will join the cryers-up, and others the cryers-down. 1892 Harper's Mag. 269/1 You were always a pretty crier, mother. |
2. spec. a. An officer in a court of justice who makes the public announcements, acts as preserver of order, etc.
| [1292 Britton i. xxii. §18 Et des criours, si nul prenge plus qe le establisement de noster estatut.] c 1400 Apol. Loll. 8 If a bedel, or criare, schewe þe fre graunt of his lord. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 12 §19 The saide clerkes..shal..appoint a criar to make proclamacions, and to call the iuries, and to do other thinges as becometh a criar of a court to do. a 1633 Austin Medit. (1635) 195 The Crier goes before the Judge. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 445 Their crier calls out, ‘Make way for the grand jury!’ 1882 W. Ballantine Exper. xvi. 158 A remark made by the crier of the court to a friend. |
b. One appointed in a town or community to make public announcements; a common, or town crier.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 247 (Mätzn.) A cryour schulde stonde vppon a toure, and..he schulde crie: Calo. a 1400 Barlaam & Josaphat 348 A Crior to stonde þer ate Wiþ a Trompe for to blowe þat alle men mihte hit wel i knowe. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 103/1 Cryar, he þat cryethe yn a merket, or in a feyre, declamator, preco. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xxvii. 84 Get a cryer and make to be cryed in euery merket place and strete. 1680 Lond. Gaz. No. 1529/4 Whoever can give notice of him to..the City Cryer, they shall be well rewarded. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 6 b, All common Cryers were excluded from the Temple. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville II. 265 Repeated by a crier for the benefit of the whole village. |
c. One who cries goods for sale: † (a) as auctioneer or agent for others (obs.); (b) as hawker on his own account.
| 1553 N. Grimalde Cicero's Offices (1556) 107 To put the goodes of the citizens in y⊇ cryers mouthe. 1598 Florio, Incantare..to sell goods by a crier, at who giues most. 1653 H. Cogan Pinto's Trav. iv. 8, I was the first that was put to sale: whereupon, just as the Cryer was offering to deliver me unto whomsoever would buy me. 1727 Pope Art of Sinking 115 Common cryers and hawkers, who by redoubling the same words persuade people to buy their oysters, green hastings, or new ballads. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. ii. i, The whole ancient family of the London criers. c 1850 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 683 He saw a crier going about with a carpet..which he offered to put up for sale. |
† 3. ? A kind of small bell used as a call. Obs.
| 1467 Will of Langewith (Somerset Ho.), A small belle called a cryer. |