gondolier
(gɒndəˈlɪə(r))
Also 7 gundelier, gondoleer, 7–8 gondalier.
[a. F. gondolier, ad. It. gondoliere (pl. -ieri), f. gondola gondola.]
One who rows a gondola. Also as v. trans., to carry in a gondola. Hence gondoˈliering vbl. n.
| 1603 Florio Montaigne (1632) 477 The Gondoliers or Water men of Venice. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. i. 126 A knaue of common hire, a Gundelier. 1611 Coryat Crudities 168, I meane those seducing and tempting Gondoleers of the Rialto bridge. 1740 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Wortley Montagu 1 June, They are rowed by gondoliers dressed in rich habits. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. iii, In Venice Tasso's echoes are no more, And silent rows the songless gondolier. 1880 V. Lee Stud. Italy vi. ii. 266 The gondoliers seated on the slimy steps by their moored boats. 1889 W. S. Gilbert Gondoliers ii. 32 Take it altogether, is it—Better fun than gondoliering? 1936 F. Clune Roaming round Darling xxiv. 254 Albert gondoliered us across the stream. 1965 Listener 15 Apr. 560/2 Gondoliering runs in families. |