释义 |
mustern.1 Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French monstre. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman monstre display, show, manifestation (of power), inspection of an army, and Middle French monstre, moustre, mostre example, model (early 13th cent. in Old French), a show of merchandise for sale, etc. (mid 13th cent.), sample of goods for sale (1350), inspection of an army (1376), payment given to soldiers at a muster (16th cent.; French montre ) < monstrer muster v.1 Compare post-classical Latin monstra act of showing (1289 in a British source), military muster (13th cent.), monstrum sample (from 8th cent. in British sources), military muster (from 14th cent. in British sources). Compare also Italian mostra (a1292; 1429 in form monstra ; compare mostra n.), Spanish muestra (1253), Catalan mostra (1271), Old Occitan mostra (c1350; Occitan mòstra), Portuguese mostra (15th cent.).The word was borrowed into several Germanic languages from French in the sense ‘sample’, compare Middle Dutch muster , monster (Dutch monster ), Middle Low German munster , muster , Middle High German muster (German Muster ). Early evidence for β. forms is frequently doubtful, as u and n are normally indistinguishable in 15th-cent. manuscripts; however, the form mounster demonstrates the existence of genuine spellings with -n- . Compare muster v.1 With phrase to pass muster (see sense 2d), compare French passer à la montre to be admitted or accepted by others (16th cent.). With sense 8 perhaps compare Middle French monstre clock-face, portable clock (see montra n.), Italian mostra ‘a watch or a dyall of the sunne’ (1598 in Florio), although both are first attested later. I. Senses relating to the assembling or collecting together of persons, etc. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of a certain number a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings v. 13 Kyng Salamon chees werkmen of al israel, & þe mowstre [L. indictio] was þretti thousendis of men. 1401 in H. Ellis (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 16 Oweyn ys moster a Monday was..viij. Mill. and xijxx. spers. 1483–4 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 317 in (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 What so ever parson..will make assemble congregation or moustre of people. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach i. f. 12 The double number of them makes the muster the greater. 1640 T. Rawlins ii. i. sig. D2v A muster of diseases Can't smell worse, than her rotten teeth. 1702 G. Farquhar v. 78 I have still Spirits to attend me. and can raise such a muster of Faries as shall punish you to death. 1810 36 145 A tolerable muster of amateurs and boxing gentry. 1836 (1846) 13 The muster at the stand was slim. 1863 W. C. Baldwin viii. 325 We set off, a strong muster, two days ago, to hunt part of the forest in which the elephants stand. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ (1891) 236 I've never seen half, or quarter the muster we've got here lately. 1933 C. Brooks 3 Jan. (1998) 43 To the Whitefriars for luncheon; a good muster. 1955 10 May 11/4 Six-foot guardsmen, each mounted on the head of the man below him,..the exact muster that would reach from sea level to the peak of Everest. 2. the world > space > place > presence > be present [verb (intransitive)] > present oneself or itself society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > [noun] > muster society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > perform ceremony [verb (intransitive)] > make a muster 1419 Ordin. War xiii, in T. Twiss (1871) I. 463 That noman be so hardy to have other men at his mustrez, than tho that be with hym self withold for the same voiage. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 153 The firste thousand is þus passed, & hath made his mostre [Fr. moustre]. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) viii. 187 The kyng Charlemagne began for to make hys mustres, for to know how much people that he had. a1500 (?c1450) 658 (MED) The kynge..made a mustre of armed peple that yef the romayns hem saugh thei sholde be dismayed. a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) i. ii. sig. a.vi In musture and in batayle euer the pryce haue they The kynges grace to serue. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece xv. xiii. f. 228v/1 The erle of Ros come with mony folkis to Perth, & maid his mowster to the kyng. 1548 f. clxxxv The people of the erles parte, beyng in their muster in Sainct Jhons felde..: sodaynly the lord Fawconbridge, whiche toke the musters, wisely declared to the multitude, the offences and breaches of the late agremente. 1553 T. Wilson ii. f. 80 Mettellus [sic] toke muster and required Cesar to be there. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cccclxvij That the kyng of England wold hire eight thousande horsemen,..and that mounsters [L. delectus] shoulde be take in sondry places. 1569 R. Grafton II. 327 The Lorde Percye caused all his companie..to make their Musters, and they found them selues to be the number of three thousand men of armes, and .vij. thousande Archers. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxvii. 18 in (1998) II. 128 Iehoua this account shall make, When he of his shall muster take. 1601 B. Jonson iii. ii. sig. G2 No signior, as I remember you seru'd on a great horse, last generall muster . View more context for this quotation 1632 W. Lithgow iii. 89 The Candeots..make muster euery eight day, before the Seriant-maiors. 1667 W. Temple Let. 21 May in (1720) I. 34 The Levies here and Musters go on with all the Care and Speed this Government is capable of. 1726–31 N. Tindal tr. P. Rapin de Thoyras (1743) II. xvii. 89 They took a muster and found their Army amounted to four thousand Foot, and six hundred Horse. 1790 J. White 124 On a muster of the convicts this morning, some were found to be missing, and supposed to have gone to Botany Bay. 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality ii, in 1st Ser. II. 31 Frequent musters and assemblies of the people, both for military exercise and for sports and pastimes, were appointed by authority. 1837 9 Feb. 45/1 The results of the Census taken last year..have at length been officially laid before the public; and we now propose to..compare them with those of former musters. 1864 VI. 637/1 In regiments of the line, a muster is taken on the 24th of each month; in ships of war, weekly. 1874 J. R. Green vii. §6. 410 Catholic lords led their tenantry to the muster at Tilbury. 1960 A. Duggan iv. 60 These Arabs of the desert come to the muster under their own chiefs, so that they are never subject to Roman discipline. 1972 W. S. Ramson in G. W. Turner ii. 43 Muster, a word from a military context, [was] used..in the colony in reference to an assembly of convicts. 1993 R. Shilts v. lvi. 526 In order to stave off problems, the colonel called a general muster of the personnel command. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1546) sig. Mm.jv The daie of forgettynge maketh the muster of my thoughtes. 1539 C. Tunstall E vij If a muster shuld be taken of swearers. 1587 T. Churchyard sig. K Can Wales be nam'de, and Shropshiere be forgote, The marshes must, make muster with the rest. 1647 J. Fletcher ii. iv. 10 Seeke me Upon a better Muster of your manners. 1671 E. Howard ii. i. 21 We Take as much, if we make a true Muster Of our Mistresses. 1796 E. Burke i. 66 In divisions..we are to make a muster of our strength. 1842 E. S. Wortley ii. 50 A nobler muster's made. There marshalled are the minds of men. 1931 P. S. Buck vii. 61 So long as Wang Lung and his father were poor and scantily fed the uncle made muster to scratch about on his land and gather enough to feed his seven children. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer according to function > [noun] > muster-master 1548 W. Patten A j b Syr George Blaag, and Syr Thomas Holcroft, Commissioners of the mousters. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Vv3v Master of the Kings musters, is a martiall officer in all royall armies most necessarie. 1633 T. Stafford i. xxi. 121 They admonished the President to carrie a strict hand upon the Commissaries of the Musters. 1647 J. Sprigge List of Officers 326 Commissary General Stane, Commissary General of the Musters. 1701 E. Ward 4 They flock in, in a Cluster, For fear of a Forfeit to th' Master of the Muster. 1785 G. A. Bellamy III. 49 He had been named..deputy Commissary to the musters. 1802 C. James at Commissary- Commissary-general of the musters, or muster-master general. 1893 Apr. 227 Captain Henry Woodhouse was..master of the muster of Suffolk County, England. 1958 63 442 Alfred Lacey Hough, a Philadelphia commission merchant who served with the union armies..occupying such posts as commissary of musters for the army of the Cumberland. 1993 at Worsley, Benjamin His tenuous hold on office was reduced to his positions as justice of the peace..and commissary-general of musters. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equivalent the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > be approved or gain acceptance [verb (intransitive)] society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > perform ceremony [verb (intransitive)] > undergo muster without censure the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > be sufficient [verb (intransitive)] 1573 G. Gascoigne Disc. Aduentures Master F. I. in 226 It was deuised in great disquiet of mynd, and written in rage, yet haue I seene much worse passe the musters. 1580 T. Churchyard 27 A goodly troupe of armed men, did passe the Muster. 1598 XXIX. 21 You must have spetiall care that not wone [sic] dwellers, victuallers, horsboyes, hirelinges or vagrant pasvolentes do offer to passe musters in the bandes. 1627 J. Smith xii. 56 Such a Ship..might well passe muster for a man of warre. 1673 xliv No Muster-Master shall knowingly let any pass the Musters, but such as are qualified. 1689 No. 2426/4 The new Regiment Commanded by the Prince de Steinhuise has pass'd Muster. 1738 J. Swift 42 She may pass Muster well enough. 1792 H. H. Brackenridge (1937) I. i.23 It was necessary..for the candidates to procure some token of a philosophical turn of mind..so as just to support some idea of natural knowledge, and pass muster. 1855 W. M. Thackeray II. xi. 106 Enough good looks to make her pass muster. 1882 C. E. L. Riddell 266 Perhaps if her lot had been cast in the present day she might have more than passed muster. 1905 E. M. Forster v. 116 He was a tall, weakly-built young man, whose clothes had to be judiciously padded on the shoulder in order to make him pass muster. 1964 C. Chaplin viii. 129 Although..we were not a roaring success, we passed muster by comparison with the other acts. 1995 10 Nov. c7/1 If only Clockwork Mice felt less like an exercise in social correctness, it might pass muster as family dramedy. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > in/into one place, company, or mass [phrase] > assembled 1595 W. Lisle 35 In muster generall Two by two, side by side, in ranke they marched all. 1611 B. Jonson i. sig. B2 When we would repeate Our strengths in Muster, we may name you all, And Furies, vpon you, for Furies, call. View more context for this quotation 1821 Ld. Byron (2nd issue) iv. ii. 113 Are all the people of our house in muster? 1869 H. B. Stowe (1870) xlv. 510 There was a splendid lunch laid out in the parlour, with all the old silver in muster. 1896 A. E. Housman lxi. 90 The dead are more in muster At Hughley than the quick. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [noun] > pay of troops > soldier's pay > at a muster 1653 in T. Fothergill 5 That the said Captain being present with the Troop in September 1651. deprived John Lowes, an old souldier, and another souldier of their muster pretending there was not Roome. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 351 While he was in those parts, he pay'd his Army twelve Musters [Fr. douze monstres] together. 1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard ii. viii. 398 During which time the Army had receiv'd five Musters, and yet complain'd of being ill us'd. society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > discharge from service > [noun] 1889 W. F. Fox i. 4 In each regiment there are men borne on the muster-out rolls as ‘missing in action’. 1892 A. E. Lee II. 146 The Fourth Ohio Infantry..returned for muster out, Jun. 12. 1899 30 784 All matters pertaining to the muster out of volunteers. 1917 28 Mar. 2/3 A War Department order suspending the muster out of all Guard organizations still in the Federal service. society > armed hostility > military organization > [noun] > muster-roll or -list society > communication > record > written record > register or record book > [noun] > other types of registers society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > crew > list of 1565 Gargrave in J. J. Cartwright (1872) 15 I have ben at York, wher I taryed untyll Tuysday last to have receyvyd the bokes of musters. 1612 F. Bacon (new ed.) 232 The population may appeare by Musters, and the number and greatnesse of Cities & Towns by Carts and Mappes. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter i. i. 5 He knew by the musters that his squadron wanted three hundred seamen of their complement. 1770 T. Percy tr. P. H. Mallet I. ix. 228 According to the musters of the Helvetians themselves..they did not exceed three hundred and sixty thousand in all. 1841 C. Dickens xl. 167 I..got put down upon the muster. 1958 30 119 The immense wealth of material contained in the regimental musters that are kept in the casemates of the Fort de Vincennes. 1988 J. C. K. Cornwall (BNC) 114 In 1517 David Cecil took a 21-year lease of land..; not being the freeholder he was not mentioned in the muster. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [noun] > droving > rounding up 1841 S. Revans (MS.) I. 90 I am not yet confident of the mode in which flock and stock musters will be dealt with by the natives. 1867 M. A. Barker Let. in (1870) xx. 173 It is impossible to estimate our loss until the grand muster at shearing. 1884 ‘R. Boldrewood’ xiii. 95 All the stockmen in the country came cheerfully to his muster. 1892 W. E. Swanton ii. 97 Previous to the shearing, there is the general muster, which means the rounding up and bringing in of all the sheep, good or bad, on the ‘run’. 1926 A. A. B. Apsley 115 A ‘muster’ in many ways is like a miniature Rodeo. 1946 F. D. Davison ix. 90 The paddock..was not the easiest in the world to lift sheep from, but Tom had a feeling..that the count would show a clean muster. 1956 35 Whole country's gone dead since muster. 1978 D. G. Jardine 34 It was the weaning and dipping muster in the height of summer. II. Senses relating more generally to demonstration and display. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > typical or representative case > part as representative of the whole > sample or specimen 1400 in J. Raine (1836) I. 260 (MED) vj duodenas mostir bordes & vj brade bordes. c1450 ( G. Chaucer 912 She Was hir [sc. Nature's] chef patron of beaute, And chef ensample of al hir werk And moustre. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in ii. f. cccxliv They shulde hete nat dignite, but moustre of badnesse & mayntenour of shrewes. 1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara 223 To have knowledge of the rivers and mines of gold, and to bring a moster of the same. 1582 in R. Hakluyt (1599) II. i. 162 You shall send home into this realme certain Mowsters or pieces of Shew to be brought to the Diershall. 1613 J. May v. 26 They haue a practize..to shut in a fine woofe at both ends of their cloth, which serveth for a muster to shewe. 1698 J. Fryer 84 Merchants bringing and receiving Musters. 1727 A. Hamilton I. v. 45 I shewed him the Musters of my Goods. 1748 in G. Hampson (1994) 14 To Export to Africa..one hundred Cuttanees two hundred fifty Musters twelve Byramputs, [etc.]. c1760 in E. Ives (1773) 52 He (the tailer) never measures you; he only asks master for muster, as he terms it, that is for a pattern. 1821 W. Scott II. iv. 72 Your suit should succeed, being..founded in justice and honour, and Elizabeth being the very muster of both. 1879 23 No. 12. 2/3 A few musters of new Teas have been shewn. society > communication > manifestation > [noun] the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > show spirit [verb] c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiii. 362 (MED) Þorw coueityse..he..menged his marchaundyse and made a gode moustre. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 360 (MED) Þei shal be knowun at domesday bi clennes..þat þei ben of Cristis secte, and shulen be taken in aftir his mustre. c1436 Duke Burgundy (Rome) 6 in R. H. Robbins (1959) 86 (MED) O thou Phelippe..whan wiltow rise And in pleyn felde doo mustre with thy launce? 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 140 The noble & riche flees wherof Iason made mustre fro ferre. 1538 H. Latimer Let. 13 June in (1845) (modernized text) II. 395 She herself, with her old sister of Walsingham [and other images]..would make a jolly muster in Smithfield; they would not be all day in burning. 1577 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara 45 At these dayes the pillers giue a muster vpon the fierce waters: declaring the pryde of his power. 1581 R. Mulcaster xxxvii. 151 They begin to make some muster and shew of their learning. 1602 R. Carew i. f. 75v You shall hardly find an assembly of boyes, in Deuon or Cornwall, where the most vntowardly amongst them, will not as readily giue you a muster of this exercise [sc. wrestling], as you are prone to require it. 1603 G. Owen (1892) 80 Wyndowes of this stone would make the like varietie and muster to the eye. a1661 T. Fuller tr. Record of Henry V in (1662) i. 50 He, that useth such Arms or Coats of Arms, shall on the day of his Muster [L. die Monstrationis suæ], manifestly shew..by virtue of whose gift he enjoyeth the same. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > paro cristatus (peafowl) > group of a1450 Terms Assoc. in (1936) 51 603 (MED) A Moustere of pokekys. 1696 E. Phillips (new ed.) Muster of Peacocks, a term for a Flock of Peacocks. 1819 W. Irving v. 403 Master Simon..told me that, according to the most ancient and approved treatise on hunting, I must say a muster of peacocks. 1847 N. P. Willis 142 A walk of snipes, a fall of woodcocks, a muster of peacocks. 1928 F. Pitt i. 11 ‘Muster’ was the term used in days of old to denote a company of peafowl. 1997 Aug. 9/1 The destructive activities of a muster of peacocks who have chewed up garden flowers, eaten wreaths off graves and wreaked havoc in a church have angered residents in a historic village. the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > [noun] c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 130 (MED) He toke..Astralalus [read Astralabus] algate..In adrentes [read Quadrentis] coruen all of quyte..Mustours & mekil quat mare þen a littill. Compounds C1. society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > [noun] > muster > day of 1551 King Edward VI (1966) (modernized text) 89 The gendarmery on the muster day should be assaulted by 2,000 footmen. 1574–5 21 To Paull Fasyde swyssar to stryk the drum affoir the toun on the mustar day. 1875 II. 562/1 The conscripts then took the military oath, sacramentum, and were dismissed until the appointed muster-day. 1994 81 1288 The militia..did little other than turn out for muster day. 1849 W. E. Aytoun Scheik of Sinai in 273 Each morning, in the market-place, The muster-drum is beat. 1876 W. Thornbury 222 A rolling of the muster drums Was heard along the line. a1784 R. Munford ii. 78 (stage direct.) A muster-field (in the court-yard.) 1838 B. Drake 179 Our sons..assembling in the ‘muster field’, divide themselves into armies, and pelt each other with Buckeye balls. 1994 60 483 Tavern keepers..hosted regular barbecues during the summer campaign season, usually at camp-grounds or muster fields. a1784 R. Munford ii. i. 78 Come, let us go into the muster-ground. 1798 15 May (1851) 1707 At the muster ground on the Commons of Portsmouth. 1874 G. Bancroft X. viii. 192 The chosen muster-ground of the most various elements of human culture brought together by men. 1964 R. Hugo Fort Casey, without Guns in 42 Straw bales on the muster ground deny A need for war. 1875 R. Nevitt Let. 1 Mar. in H. A. Dempsey 65 This morning I had to appear at the usual monthly Muster Parade. 1947 J. Bertram vi. iii. 190 ‘Tenko’—the morning and evening muster parade..that was routine in all prison camps in Japan. 1981 June 218/1 The muster parades, normally held every two months, at which the soldiers present were checked against the muster-roll, and the regiment's pay calculated. 1649 No. 37. 269 The K. of Denmark addressed himself to the E. of Oldenberg..& desired of him..that he might have liberty to levy men in his Dominions, and a free Muster place for them. 1832 W. E. Aytoun 45 The clouds are gathering in their muster-place. 1891 May 373/2 Captain brown..says that when he entered the muster-room, Lovejoy was the centre of a group earnestly discussing the situation. 1980 (Nexis) 2 July b2/1 For several weeks, the blackboard in the muster room of the Fifth Precinct station house..carried this message: ‘Softball, 9 A.M. Thursday.’ 1990 J. Welch 14 A couple of officers talked in low tones in the muster room next door and Harwood couldn't see or understand them. C2. 1908 at Muster sb.1 Muster-card. society > armed hostility > military organization > [noun] > muster-roll or -list a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iii. 171 So that the muster file, rotten and sound, vppon my life amounts not to fifteene thousand pole. View more context for this quotation 1586 Earl of Leicester (1844) 278 But, betwene the auditor and the muster-maker, you will easilie find the faults. 1599 G. Chapman sig. Ev He was taken learning trickes at old Lucilas house the muster mistris of all the smocktearers in Paris. 1840 C. F. Hoffman I. x. 111 I let ye put down my name on your muster-paper there, as making myself a raal sodger under you. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 489 Muster paper, a description of paper supplied from the dockyards, ruled and headed, for making ships' books. 1876 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xii, in 23 Sept. 502/3 These muster parties were extremely congenial to Mr. Neuchamp's tastes and tendencies. 1820 9 Sept. 2/1 It is further ordered and directed that the Clerk of the General Muster do furnish to the Principal or Senior Magistrate at each Muster Station, a suitable Book and Form for the taking the said Musters. 1892 ‘P. Warung’ 2 Oatlands, a small township in the midlands of Van Diemen's Land, which has gradually grown up round a convict ‘muster-station’. 1980 (Nexis) 14 Sept. e8 We quickly boarded, changed into something more casual, and proceeded to the muster station on deck. 1990 (Sealink Brit. Ferries) Apr. 8 Be sure you know where your nearest Muster Station (assembly point) is located. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † mustern.2Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: musterdevillers n. Etymology: Shortened < musterdevillers n. Obsolete. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from wool > [noun] > of specific colour > grey 1431–2 in C. M. Woolgar (1992) II. 531 In xx ulnis panni linei vocati Mustercloth'. 1466 in (1841) 170 Item, my mastyr owyth hym for ij yerdes of muster. 1549 c. 2 §1 Russetes, Musters, Marbles, Grayes, Royes, and suche lyke colors. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2020). musterv.1 Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French monstrer, mostrer. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman monstrer, mouster, moustrer, mustrer, mustir, etc., to show, display, demonstrate, expound, (of soldiers, an army) to assemble, and Middle French mostrer, moustrer, monstrer to show, display (10th cent. in Old French in past participle in form mostret ), to inspect, review (late 14th cent.; French montrer ) < classical Latin mōnstrāre (see monstrate v.), in post-classical Latin also in spec. military sense (from 13th cent. in British sources). Compare post-classical Latin mustrare (873). Compare Old Occitan mostrar (12th cent.), Italian mostrare (late 12th cent.), Spanish mostrar (early 13th cent.), Portuguese mostrar (1261); also Middle Dutch monsteren, monstren (Dutch monsteren), Middle High German mustern (German mustern).See note s.v. muster n.1 for discussion of β. forms. In military use the forms with -n- may have been due to the influence of Dutch monsteren. †1. society > communication > manifestation > [verb (transitive)] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 9512 Þat suilk a man cuth think in thoght þat mustre þat mercle moght? a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 25523 (MED) Þat ilk time þore mistred [a1400 Gött. mustrid; a1400 Fairf. shewed] þe, Suet iesu! wit hert sa fre, To maria magdalene. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 209 (MED) To þe pape of Rome þei mostred þer resoun. a1425 (?a1350) (Galba) (1907) 51 (MED) His miracles musters his might. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 2 In þis sentence, mustirs sain bent us hu we sal lede ure lif. ?a1425 (?c1350) (Rawl.) 144 (MED) Þe process clerely to declare, Here I sall yhit muster mare. a1450 (1885) 6 Ande in my fyrste makyng to mustyr my mighte,..I byd in my blyssyng ȝhe aungels gyf lyghte. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1894) I. lf. 72 In mustryng and shewyng your corayges. a1500 (?c1450) 407 (MED) Wondres a-monge his enmyes..dide Galashin, that often was he shewed, and mustred with the fynger on bothe sides. 1548 f. lxxiijv Anticke images of gold..mounsteryng their countenaunces towardes the enteryng of the palaice. 1598 W. Rankins (1948) Ded. 3 These rough cast Satyres, which are not absurded (though somewhat rustically mustred). 1622 R. Hawkins lix. 139 If they had come to boord with the Spanish high-charged ships, it is not to be doubted but they would haue mustred themselues better, then those which could not with their prowesse nor props, haue reached to their wastes. a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iv. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) 137/2 Since ye take a pride to show your follies, I'le muster 'em, and all the world shall view 'em. the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be visible [verb (intransitive)] > appear or become visible ?1435 ( J. Lydgate (1934) ii. 631 (MED) So this Citee..For ioye moustred lyke the sonne beem. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve (Harl. 4866) (1897) 415 (MED) Vndir an old pore habyt regneþ oft Grete vertu, þogh it moustre porely. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1959) x. xiii. 31 Sik like Mezentius mustyrris in the feyld, With huge armour, baith speyr, helm, and scheyld. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1960) xii. vi. 41 And haltandly in his cart for the nanis He skippis vp and musturis wantonly. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy (1901) I. iii. iii. 251 For þe nobill palacis and towris musturit so aufully within þe ciete, þat þai drewe þe myndis of equis and wolchis fra all segeing. 1565 J. Calfhill f. 167v When the Papists beholde the work of their owne hands, the Crosse it self, fayre mustering in ye church, which might peraduenture haue bene a logge for the chimney. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens vi. i. 653 When these buddes do open and spreade, the sweete and pleasant Roses do muster and shewe foorth of colour white. 1597 F. Bacon f. 21v And this maketh the greater shew if it be done without order, for confusion maketh things muster more. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > find or furnish an instance or example of [verb (transitive)] a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 52 They weare themselues in the cap of the time, there do muster true gate; eat, speake, and moue vnder the influence of the most receiu'd starre. View more context for this quotation 2. society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)] the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of people or animals the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > include [verb (transitive)] > count in or include among c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iii. 674 (MED) Kyng Honux..In ordre hadde of wardis þe þrittene, Proudly mowsteryng endelong þe grene. 1439 V. 32/2 Diversez and many Souldeours..have mustred and entred in of record the Kyngs Souldeours. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich xlv. 150 Eche Man In his beste Aray, To-forn him they Mostred þere þat day. ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1894) I. lf. 71 Whan alle thassamble had mustryd and were gaderd to gyder. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. ccliv. 154 They went & mostred before the bastide of Arde. 1535 1 Kings xx. 27 The children of Israel mustured,..and wente to mete them, and pitched their tentes ouer against them. 1594 W. Shakespeare sig. D3v Whose ranks of blew vains..mustring to the quiet Cabinet, Where their deare gouernesse and ladie lies, Do tell her shee is dreadfullie beset. 1594 W. Shakespeare sig. F2 Besides his soules faire temple is defaced, To whose weake ruines muster troopes of cares. View more context for this quotation a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in 5 A field of fancies musterd in my mynd. 1658 J. Shirley 20 We will have tilting too, and feats of Chivalry At Court where I'l defend my Aurelia Princess, In the guilt armour that I mustered in. 1669 Haddington Burgh Rec. 2 Oct. in (at cited word) The militia regement are to mouster shortlie. 1689 H. Pitman 23 When the young ones [sc. turtles] are hatcht, they musters out of their Cells and marches into the Sea. 1700 R. Blackmore xxxvi. 158 Recruits of Vapours which arise, Drawn from the Sea to muster in the Skys. 1775 A. Cooke in J. Sparks (1853) I. 19 The country round were alarmed and mustering. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. ii. 186 At every conventicle they mustered in arms. 1874 J. R. Green iii. §7. 152 The royal army had already mustered in great force at the King's summons. 1911 J. Masefield in 9 379 The firemen were mustering, The half-dressed stable men were flustering. 1995 Aug. 92/2 The exercise is complicated by an army of children, horses and hounds mustering on the Portaferry side. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > assemble (people or animals) > for inspection or review society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > perform ceremony [verb (transitive)] > muster (Harl. 221) 349 Musteryn or gadyr to-gedur, commonstro, coaduno. a1500 (?c1450) 560 (MED) Thei moustred and assembled all the peple that thei myght gete. 1530 J. Palsgrave 643/1 I muster, I take the muster of men, as a capytayne doth, je fais les monstres. What place wyll you sygne to muster your folkes in. 1548 f. clxiiijv How busy he was in mustering, howe diligent in setting forward. 1557 c. 3 §1 Commaundment hathe bene given..to divers..persons to muster their Majesties People..and to levie a nomber of them for the Service of their Majesties. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cxxxvijv This man would haue also footemen ready monstered. 1595 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 112 I then in London..Mustred my souldiers. 1609 R. Cawdrey (ed. 2) Muster, take view of men, or armour. 1647 N. Bacon 64 They mustered their armes once every yeere both in Towns and Hundreds. 1682 J. Bunyan 52 When the King had mustered his Forces, (for it is he that mustereth the Host to the Battel) he gave [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1700 R. Blackmore xv. 67 She'll draw her Troops of Terrors in array, Muster her Griefs, and horrid War display. 1717 1 Apr. 2/1 Finding they [sc. the English] could not Muster above 80 Men together (the rest being in the Lagoons) The Spaniards being 600 Men, they..surrender'd. 1793 J. Hunter xiv. 361 [In 1789] I gave orders for the convicts to be mustered in their huts three times every night. 1799 1 93 On Sundays, when they were mustered by the commanding officer. 1804 1 Mar. The superintendants at the different settlements are to muster the Prisoners at Public Labour every Sunday Morning before divine service. 1865 W. G. Palgrave II. 275 Before long he had mustered and equipped about thirty frigates. 1879 J. A. Froude xv. 241 All sides were mustering their forces in view of an impending fight. 1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Introd. 61 The Clan Neill, mustered by Columba himself. 1932 G. Greene ii. i. 78 Meanwhile the government was able to muster police reinforcements, and with the help of a platoon of soldiers and a couple of field-guns, the police recaptured the post office. 1988 D. A. Thomas iii. 249/2 Prince Rupert joined Albemarle, which allowed the English to muster about sixty ships. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (reflexive)] > specifically of people or animals 1535 Isa. viii. C Mustre you and gather you, take youre councel together. 1569 R. Grafton II. 327 So that at the last they mustered themselues, and they were aboue ten thousand men. 1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye II. To Rdr. sig. b4v Those lewde and lasciuious bookes, which haue mustered themselues of late yeeres in Pauls Churchyard, as chosen souldiers ready to fight vnder the deuils banner. a1644 B. Twyne in A. Wood (1891) I. 60 That afternoone they mustered themselves in the fields. 1811 23 Feb. 1/1 Many Persons have omitted to come forward and muster themselves. 1900 W. Alexander 160 They gather and muster themselves. 1958 R. K. Narayan vi. 85 They were mustering themselves to attack the other group. 1981 K. A. McClane 38 Children must come and muster themselves by this stone. society > armed hostility > armed forces > create military forces [verb (transitive)] > of force: comprise (spec. number) the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > amount to or total 1810 J. Porter II. iii. 54 ‘We just muster five hundred men,’ said Ker, advancing from the lines to Wallace; ‘but they are all as stout in heart as condition.’ 1837 W. Irving III. 6 The whole garrison mustered but six or eight men. 1851 R. Hussey i. 2 Formed a Synod of their own, mustering about 80. 1877 24 Nov. 439/3 We mustered seven strong, and thought we had the surest kind of a sure thing. 1907 18 May 597/2 Davout's corps..defeated a force comprising the choicest part of the Prussian army, and mustering nearly double its numbers. 1991 M. Brogden (BNC) 62 There was a parade of the Liverpool City force..on the occasion of the annual inspection. The force mustered 1,209 strong. society > communication > manifestation > offering for inspection or consideration > offer for inspection or consideration [verb (transitive)] 1904 June 1033 The bluejacket may at any moment be called on to muster his kit. 3. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] c1560 Hunting of Cheviot ix, in F. J. Child (1889) III. vi. 311/1 The bowmen mustered on the hills. 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello f. 245v Whereof I wishe some suche as I coulde name to mooster in the mowthe of a trench..to thende they might both witnes the daunger, and be partakers of the perill of warr. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iv. 20 Oh, heauens Why doe's my bloud thus muster to my heart. View more context for this quotation 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot i. 57 They burn Incense about him, which they say scares away Evil Spirits and Devils, who otherwise would muster about the [dead] Body. 1735 S. Bowden II. 49 From their Coverts Fairies rally, And muster in some lonely Vally. 1820 W. Scott I. iii. 48 I think he comes of gentle blood—see how it musters in his face at your injurious reproof. 1869 J. R. Lowell xxv What marvels manifold, Seemed silently to muster! 1883 R. L. Stevenson in Apr. 273/2 Nothing remains of the days of Drake but the faithful trade-wind scattering the smoke, the fogs that will begin to muster about sundown. 1886 C. E. Pascoe (ed. 3) xviii. 159 The members of the Four-in-Hand and Coaching clubs muster in great force. 1929 R. Hughes vii. 163 When dinner-time came, the children mustered for their soup and biscuit. 1979 J. Grimond vi. 103 Scapa Flow, that sheet of enclosed water where the Norse fleets had mustered a thousand years ago was once more bristling with warships. 1987 30 July 21/2 The guides and brownies mustered for a parade led by the town band. 1989 A. Dillard iii. 43 At the sound of my ax..real islanders, proper, wood-splitting islanders..mustered..under the firs. 1790 G. Colman i. 12 Tho' they do muster strong, we may make Edward's party skip, if we have but justice on our side. 1845 W. M. Thackeray Legend of Rhine in G. Cruickshank Aug. I. viii. 170 His Grace..gives an archery meeting once a year, and prizes for which we toxophilites muster strong. 1877 A. Domett Song for Family Party in 18 By the old convivial table Where we oft have mustered strong. 1894 S. F. Adams 154 March winds muster strong. 1915 Dec. 58 One evening I had been skylarking in the gymnasium and sprained my thumb. The next day being Battalion Day I mustered strong at the sick bay. 4. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > count people 1565 T. Cooper Censor,..one that valueth or mustreth. 1636 R. Basset tr. G. A. de Paoli 13 In the eigth yeere of his reigne hee mustred the City. society > communication > record > written record > register or record book > register [verb (transitive)] 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay xxx. 562 Bycause he yelded his Soule vnto death, and did muster himself among the transgressers. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 10 Newnesse Of Clotens death (we being not knowne, not muster'd Among the Bands) may driue vs to a render Where we haue liu'd. View more context for this quotation 1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in App. 52 No less for Bachus shall kind Colcoat's name, Be Mustered in the Registers of Fame. 1748 T. Smollett I. xxvii. 244 I had been rated on the books, and mustered as surgeon's mate. the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > call roll of the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > again society > travel > travel by water > seafaring life > [verb (transitive)] > muster crew or watch the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > count people > call a roll 1670 J. Eachard 48 He falls a fighting with his Text,..then he musters all again, to see what word was lost, or lam'd in the Skirmish. 1820 W. Scoresby II. 199 When the crew have been mustered by the proper officer of the customs, and paid a month's wages in advance. 1851 H. Melville cxxxiv. 619 Upon mustering the company, the Parsee was not there. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Muster the watch, a duty performed nightly at 8 p.m., and repeated when the watch is relieved up to 4 a.m. 1897 J. Conrad i. 13 You were mustering the crew. Naturally I called out my name. I thought you had it on your list. 1961 15 302 Mr. Baker is mustering the crew. Seventeen men answer to the roll call. 1995 80 75 Etheridge mustered the crew. society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)] society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > discharge from service > [verb (transitive)] 1834 J. A. Wakefield 93 The place appointed for us to be discharged at (or mustered out of the service of the United States). 1846 W. H. Richardson 7 Aug. (1928) 18 We met our first Lieutenant, just from the Fort. He told us to hurry and get mustered into service before the other companies should crowd in. 1862 12 339 No person under the age of eighteen shall be mustered into the United States service. 1899 T. Roosevelt vi. 233 The fortitude displayed by the men of your regiment, who have come before me to be mustered out of service. 1956 J. Barth vii. 74 I was mustered out of service in 1919 and entered Johns Hopkins University. 1993 8 Feb. 84/3 300,000 soldiers, sailors, and fliers have been mustered out of the service. 5. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxxi. 5 in (1998) II. 117 Muster hither musicks ioyes, Lute, and lyre, and tabretts noise. 1656 J. Harrington 179 A Cause being introduced, and the people Mustered or Assembled for the Decision of the same. 1692 R. L'Estrange xxxiii. 32 A Daw that had a mind to be Sparkish, Trick'd himself up with all the Gay-Feathers he could Muster together. 1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins 16 All the Hands we could muster in both Watches, Officers included, were but twelve. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter ii. ii. 135 All the..remnants of old sails that could be mustered. 1793 J. Smeaton (ed. 2) §286 I melted down all the pewter plates and dishes that we could muster on board the buss. 1832 H. Martineau ii. 16 A respectable addition was made by them to the few shillings Sullivan had been able to muster. 1835 J. P. Kennedy I. ii. 31 I mustered my horse and gun, and some decent clothes. 1841 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. iv. 66 With your wife's fortune, you muster 2000l. a-year. 1855 T. B. Macaulay III. xii. 175 A procession of twenty coaches belonging to public functionaries was mustered. 1886 T. Hardy II. xvi. 224 The rusty-jointed executors of the law mustered assistance as soon as they could, and the whole party marched off to the lane of notoriety. 1938 E. Bowen ii. i. 184 The taxi turned and crawled along the back of the dyke; Mrs. Heccomb brisked up and began to muster her parcels. 1990 D. McCullin 213 He asked if we would like some coffee. So shocked were we that we could hardly muster enough saliva between us to say we would. the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [verb (transitive)] > summon one's resolution the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person > a person or his attributes for an effort 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 85 Muster your Wits, stande in your owne defence. View more context for this quotation 1645 in S. Hibbert (1822) 601 Has given yourself..to serving the Devill..that you will not muster power nor will cast off the Devill, sa mutch as..to repeat the Lordis Prayer. 1671 J. Milton 402 Mustring all her wiles. View more context for this quotation 1745 E. Young 65 They scarce can swallow their ebullient Spleen, Scarce muster Patience to support the Farce. 1814 W. Scott I. xv. 213 Cantering his white pony down the avenue with all the speed it could muster . View more context for this quotation 1849 C. Brontë I. vi. 119 Mr. Moore's dark face mustered colour; his lips smiled. 1863 W. C. Baldwin vii. 289 I re-mounted, mustered a canter, by dint of great persuasion. 1876 G. O. Trevelyan II. xv. 478 He mustered strength to dictate a letter. 1921 J. Galsworthy 157 ‘Your father didn't wish you to hear,’ she said, with all the aplomb she could muster. 1987 C. Achebe vi. 77 I simply couldn't muster anything you could call enthusiasm. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] > with regard to resources a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Custome of Countrey v. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. Cc4/2 With what a greedy hawkes eye she beholds me? Marke how she musters all my parts. 7. Australian and New Zealand. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > herding, pasturing, or confining > [verb (transitive)] > round up 1813 in (1916) 1st Ser. VII. 747 You must in Person Muster the whole of the Horned Cattle, Sheep and Horses belonging to the Crown. 1846 C. J. Pharazyn (MS.) 23 June 45 Assisted in mustering Ewes and Lambs into Stock-Yard. 1852 J. R. Clough Diary 4 May in J. Deans (1937) 292 Port Philip men just arrived..and two of the survey men mustered the cattle this day. 1867 M. A. Barker Let. in (1870) xvi. 122 It is very difficult to ‘muster’ these ranges. 1878 E. S. Elwell 208 They all started from the hut to muster off ‘Nob’ mountain. 1930 L. G. D. Acland vii. 164 The country had never been stocked... [They] had once mustered it..and got about 300 wild sheep off it. 1934 A. Russell xxiii. 210 Here we loosed the herd and went east to muster up another section of the run. 1947 P. Newton (1949) 12 The musterer's job is to muster the sheep off such country into the respective homesteads. 1950 Oct. 349/3 While the hill wethers are being shorn the ewes and lambs are being mustered on the various blocks and are brought in. 1975 Sept. 9/2 Small delays in mustering the herds can then lead to severe delays in the milking routine. 1861 (Hocken Libr. MS.) 3 Apr. Worthington..stayed all night going to muster to morrow. 1874 A. Bathgate vii. 80 A shepherd, while out mustering, descried the errant steed on a small plateau. 1878 E. S. Elwell 173 Walker's men never mustered beyond the ‘Saddle’. 1892 E. W. Hornung 41 All hands were away mustering in a distant paddock. 1944 F. Clune 18 I found Bob Buck out mustering. 1987 12 Nov. 22/5 Our wethers are shorn in September and drenched and go out on their runs till we muster in May. the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equivalent 1820 C. Lamb in Oct. 367/1 I longed to new-coat him in Russia, and assign him his place. He might have mustered for a tall Scapula. Phrasal verbs With adverbs in specialized senses. to muster in U.S.the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > call roll of 1840 R. H. Dana xxiii. 230 The carpenter sometimes mustered in the starboard watch. 1911 (3rd Legislature) 217 Before any ex-Confederate or ex-Union soldier or sailor shall be entitled to any of the privileges, he shall make an affidavit in writing that he was properly mustered in. 1989 A. Gurganus (1991) 185 I..walked off and then soon after got mustered in, then snagged the minnie that costs the leg then the rest of it, me. to muster out U.S.1864 G. A. Sala in 25 Feb. 5/3 Drunken or dishonest subalterns who have been ‘mustered out’—i.e., expelled the army for misconduct. 1883 J. Hay 242 I wouldn't muster out that army of yours till to-morrow. 1903 J. Fox xxvii. 27 Chad got permission straightway to go back to Ohio and be mustered out with his old regiment. 1918 W. Faulkner Let. 17 Nov. in (1992) 130 We hear one minute that we are to be mustered out, and next that we spend the winter at flying camp. 1974 R. A. Caro vii. xliv. 1027 Mustered out, he used the GI Bill to attend not college but the Actors Laboratory. to muster up the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] society > armed hostility > military organization > ceremonial > perform ceremony [verb (transitive)] > muster a1593 C. Marlowe (c1600) sig. B7 Ile muster vp an army secretly. 1595 W. Shakespeare iv. ix. 18 In thy countries muster vp thy friends. 1621 R. Burton iii. ii. ii. i. 546 They muster vp wenches as we doe souldiers. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Schweitzer Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer 305 We were muster'd up, and received the next day two months Pay. 1790 R. Beatson I. 185 Mr Hodge..mustered up about three hundred volunteers. 1822 C. P. Clinch Spy in (1941) 104 Muster up now men. 1845 F. Douglass x. 80 They very soon mustered up some old spelling-books. 1891 C. Roberts 190 The few Indians..returned..with all of the tribe that they could muster up. 1990 B. Purdie (BNC) 134 At times we couldn't muster up the required six members for a quorum at monthly meetings. the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [verb (transitive)] > summon one's resolution the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > pluck up courage [verb] 1628 W. Prynne 10 Which I shall enumerate and muster vp in order. 1662 Pref. The old Objections mustered up. 1743 R. Blair 7 Whilst busy-meddling Memory..Musters up The past Endearments of their softer Hours. 1777 J. Priestley (1782) I. xvi. 188 Dr Oswald..has mustered up all his logic to invalidate it. 1813 W. Scott 6 Nov. (1932) III. 376 A very large river..is at this moment mustering up all its waters with a voice like distant thunder. 1893 F. C. Selous 111 She had mustered up courage to speak to him. 1925 F. S. Fitzgerald v. 105 I couldn't muster up a single commonplace out of the thousand in my head. 1986 11 July a2/5 Right before my mother died, she mustered up the strength to help me pick out a dress. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). musterv.2 Origin: Of uncertain origin. Etymology: Origin uncertain. Compare German regional (Low German) mustern to whistle, Norwegian (Nynorsk) mustra to mutter, mumble, grumble, and also Icelandic muskra to whisper, speak low, bleat, Swedish regional muska mutter; also Shetland Scots musker , mosker to mutter, whisper: all perhaps ultimately of imitative origin (perhaps compare mutter v.1).The 19th-cent. examples may represent an independent formation. Scottish and English regional in later use. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > talk secretively [verb (intransitive)] (Harl. 221) 349 Mustryn [?a1475 Winch. Musteryn] or qwyspryn privyly, mussito. (Harl. 221) 439 Rummuelon, or prively mystron [?a1475 Winch. musteron], mussito. 1825 J. Jamieson Suppl. (at cited word) To Muster, to talk with exceeding volubility, Clydes. 1847 J. O. Halliwell II Mustir, to talk together privately. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1a1382 n.21431 v.1a1400 v.21440 |