manqueller Obs. exc. arch.
(ˈmænkwɛlə(r))
[f. man n.1 + queller.]
A manslayer, murderer.
| c 1290 Beket 436 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 119 Þat a luþer þef, a manquellare hadde a so liȝt dom. a 1300 Cursor M. 2205 Nembrot..O babilon king..Reuer and man-queller. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 383 Þus þei ben..monquelleres of pore men, whose lyvelode þei awey taken fro hom. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 2365 Semey [= Shimei] callid Dauid man of Belial and manqwhellere. 1529 More Dyaloge iii. Wks. 244/1 No wise manne wer there that woulde put al weapons away because manquellers misuse them. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 58 Thou art a honyseed, a Man-queller, and a woman-queller. 1632 I. L. Womens Rights 343 If a man were slaine..and another man receiued the man-queller. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 863 A man-queller; homicida. 1870 Bryant Iliad I. i. 14 While multitudes are perishing by the hand Of Hector, the man-queller. |
b. An executioner. (Cf. manslayer b.)
| c 1300 Seyn Julian (MS. Ashmole) 185 Com uorþ he sede my manquellare..And smyt of hire heued. 1382 Wyclif Mark vi. 27 A manquellere sent [Vulg. misso spiculatore]. |