supplier
(səˈplaɪə(r))
Forms: 5–6 Sc. supplear, 7 -yer, 7– supplier.
[f. supply v.1 + -er1.]
† 1. One who takes the place of or acts as substitute for another. Obs.
| 1491 Cartular. S. Nicholai Aberdon. (New Spalding Club) I. 255 Ilkane chaplane writin to ye haly blude mess..falȝeande in þe doinge of þame sal pay iiii d to ye supplear. |
† 2. A helper, supporter; an assistant. Obs.
| 1515 in Pitcairn Crim. Trials (1833) I. 232* Makand him and his assignais Keparis ouersearis, correkaris, and suplearis of the Isle of Litill Comeray..becaus Robert Huntare..Forrestar of heretage of þe said Ile, is nocht of power to resist þe personis þat waistis þe samyn, without suplé and help. 1525 St. Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 418 Togither with yair part takaris, assistaris, supplearis. 1586 Reg. Privy Council Scot. IV. 71 Ressavaris, supplearis and intercommonaris with the Kingis rebellis. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 69 His neighbour Princes will censure his ambition, and rather be spectators of his successes, then be supplyers. |
3. One who makes up a deficiency.
| 1607 Chapman Bussy d'Ambois ii. i. 103 All vaunt themselves Law-menders and suppliers. 1737 Stackhouse Hist. Bible v. v. (1752) I. 745/2 Saul might set up for..a Supplier of the Default of Joshua. |
4. One who (or that which) furnishes something needed; a provider, purveyor.
| c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §202 (1810) 211 Dartmore, our daily supplier. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 440 Brundusium..was the great supplier of oysters for the Roman tables. 1827 Examiner 99/1 The suppliers of intellectual gratification. 1858 Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. lxxvi. II. 28 To reduce Asia to be the supplier of the European slave⁓market. 1897 M. Kingsley W. Africa 665 Van Huytemers and Peters are the two great suppliers of the gin that goes to West Africa. 1907 O'Gorman Motor Pocket Bk. (ed. 2) 463 You cannot have too many spares, though the supplier will tell you the contrary. |
b. An apparatus for supplying something; a feeder.
| 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 147 A kind of funnel-shaped supplier. |