▪ I. † ˈfewter, n. Obs.
Forms: 4 feuter, (fewtyre), 5 fewter, -tir(e, -tre.
[a. OF. feutre, fautre (:—late L. filtrum: see felt, filter), lit. ‘felt’, hence a felt-lined socket for a spear.]
The rest or support for a lance or spear attached to the saddle of a knight or man-at-arms.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 3437 Wiþ spere festened in feuter. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1366 A faire floreschte spere in fewtyre he castes. c 1450 Merlin 127 Gripynge his spere in the fewtre. c 1470 Henry Wallace iii. 168 Thair cheyff chyftan..In fewtir kest a fellone aspre sper. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vi. ii, Syre Ector..in fewter cast his spere and smote the other knyghte a grete buffet. |
▪ II. † ˈfewter, v.1 Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To put (a spear) into the ‘fewter’ or rest.
| c 1400 Melayne 1474 Thay ferlyde why he fewterde his spere. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vi. vi, And thenne they fewtryd their sperys. 1557 K. Arthur (Copland) v. ix, Whan syr Gawayn espyed this gaye knyght he fewtred hys spere and rode strayght unto hym. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. vi. 10 He his threatfull speare Gan fewter. |
▪ III. † ˈfewter, v.2 Obs.
Also felter.
[ad. OF. feutrer to make into felt.]
a. trans. To pack or set (men) close together. b. intr. for refl. To close in battle, come to close quarters.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1711 Ffifty thosandez of folke..are fewteride on frounte undyr ȝone fre-bowes. 1513 Douglas æneis x. vi. 166 Thai fewtyr fut to fut and man to man. |