victualler
/ˈvɪt(ə)lə
/(US victualer)
noun
1 (also licensed victualler) British A person who is licensed to sell alcohol.He sells his questions by the dozen to licensed victuallers and is compiling an interactive quiz for the internet and CD-rom....
- Alongside commercial directories, they allow one to be much more specific about the specialisation of manufacturers and retailers classified as for example victuallers, confectioners, engineers or ironmongers.
- Derek Haworth, former chairman of the licensed victuallers association, said: ‘We already have to pay both council and business tax?’
2 dated A person providing or selling food or other provisions.The old shop was once a butcher's shop when the Henaghan family were the town's leading victuallers....
- A GAA county development officer, the former victualler surprised many when leaving the meat trade for a coaching role.
- The profits from these activities provided work for an endless array of builders, carriage-makers, tailors, seamstresses, domestic servants, cab-drivers, and victuallers.
2.1A ship providing supplies for troops or other ships.The lines kept getting confused and each time the lighter thought it was freed it turned out to be the ropes of the victualler!...
- It is perhaps a perception of this which led the Crown to reject a constructive proposal from the navy victuallers in 1638.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French vitaill(i)er, from vitaille (see victual).