sumpter
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word sumpter. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word sumpter, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say sumpter in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word sumpter you have here. The definition of the word sumpter will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofsumpter, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Middle English, from Old French sommetier (“pack-horse driver”), from Late Latin *sagmatarius, from Latin sagma, from Ancient Greek σάγμα (ságma, “pack-saddle”).
Pronunciation
Noun
sumpter (plural sumpters)
- (historical) The driver of a packhorse.
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
- Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter / To this detested groom.
- (historical) A packhorse; a beast of burden.
- 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande , volume I, London: for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC:
- the ancient vse of somers and sumpter horsses is in maner vtterlie relinquished
- 2008, Michael Jecks, The Prophecy of Death:
- The Bishop of Orange was watching carefully as men stored his papers in a cart, the King's steward and Despenser's bottler were stalking about among the wagons and sumpter horses ensuring that all was packed, while clerks of the various departments of state were hurrying about, squeaking at men who looked as though they might drop a chest or misstore a box in the wrong wagon, and generally getting in the way of everyone else while making themselves thoroughly miserable at the same time.
- (obsolete) A pack; a burden.
- 1626 February 13 (licensing date), Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Noble Gentleman”, in Comedies and Tragedies , London: Humphrey Robinson, , and for Humphrey Moseley , published 1647, →OCLC, Act V, scene i:
- You should have had a Sumpter , tho' 'thad cost me
The laying on myself
