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groom-porter Obs. exc. Hist.
1. An officer of the English Royal Household, abolished under George III; his principal functions, at least from the 16th c., were to regulate all matters connected with gaming within the precincts of the court, to furnish cards and dice, etc., and to decide disputes arising at play.
1502Privy Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830) 35 George Hamerton grome porter. 1503–4in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. II. 337 Thomas Hallye, grome portair of the Quenis chamir. 1610B. Jonson Alchemist iii. ii, They will set him Vpmost, at the Groom-Porter's, all the Christmasse; And, for the whole yeare through, at euery place Where there is play, present him with the Chayre. a1654Selden Table-T. (Arb.) 59 Though there be false Dice brought in at the Groom-Porters, and cheating offer'd, yet unless he allow the Cheating, and judge the Dice to be good, there may be hopes of fair play. 1678Otway Friendship in F. i. i. Wks. 1728 I. 244, I ran to the Groom-Porter's last Night, and lost my Money. 1705Lond. Gaz. No. 4095/3 Thomas Archer Esq. is appointed to be Groom-Porter to Her Majesty. 1716Lady M. W. Montagu Basset-Table 99 At the groom-porter's, batter'd bullies play. 1898Daily News 7 Nov. 4/5 From Christmas to Epiphany, the Groom Porter kept an open gambling-house for the Court.
transf.1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man ii. i, He had scarce talents to be groom-porter to an orange barrow.
fig.1659Fuller App. Inj. Innoc. (1840) 350, I appeal to the reader, whom I make groom-porter (termed by Mr. Camden, aleatorum arbiter), and let him judge who plays with false, who cogs, who slurs a dye.
2. pl. Loaded dice. (Cf. quot. 1654 in 1.)
1687Miege Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, Grumporters, heavy Dice, de gros Dez. 1847in Halliwell.
Hence groom-portership, the office of groom-porter.
1620in Rymer Fœdera (1707) XVII. 236 Wee..doe give and graunte unto..Clement Cotterell Esquior the Roome and Office of Groomeporter or Groome Portership within all and everie our Howse and Howses. |