dapifern.
/ˈdapɪfə/ One who brings meat to table; hence, the official title of the steward of a king's or nobleman's household.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > steward or bailiff in charge of another's property
town-reeveeOE
reeveeOE
gravec1175
procuratorc1300
dispender1340
provost1340
bailiec1375
officerc1375
dispenserc1380
proctora1382
dispensator1382
farmerc1384
approverc1386
husbanda1387
stewardc1405
chamberlain1423
procurer1477
factor1520
bailiff1528
land-steward1535
improver1536
grieve1537
amtman1582
administrator1596
stead-man1609
dapifer1636
vogt1694
house jobber1709
commissioner1760
foreman1774
house agent1793
ground-officer1815
land-agent1846
wic-reeve1853
steadward1876
house farmer1882
house-knacker1884
land-sergeant1894
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > head servant or house steward
stewardc1000
spencea1300
spender1340
spencerc1380
maître d'hôtel1540
major-domo1589
dapifer1636
khansama1645
sirkar1772
maître d'1942
1636 R. Basset tr. G. A. de Paoli Lives Rom. Emperors 308 This Emperour also appointed divers Offices in the Empire, as Chancellor, Dapifer, etc.
1657 T. Reeve God's Plea for Nineveh 25 Thou art the Dapifer to thy Palate.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Dapifer, he that carries up a Dish at a Feast, a Server..Afterwards the Title was given to any trusty Servant, especially the chief Steward, or Head Bailiff of an Honour, etc.
1845 C. MacFarlane Cabinet Hist. Eng. I. 163 The royal cup-bearer or dapifer ordered him to withdraw.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1636