cupbearer

plural cupbearers · alternative cup bearer · alternative cup-bearer

1. historicalOne who ceremonially fills and hands out the cups in which a drink is served.

   [P]rosper, I pray thee, thy ſeruant this day, and grant him mercie in the ſight of this man. For I was the kings cup-bearer.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Nehemiah 1:11, column 1

   5 more examples

   [W]hile the King [Edward the Confessor] and Godwine [Godwin, Earl of Wessex] ſate at the table, accompanied with others of the nobilitie, it chanced the Cupbearer (as he brought wine to the bourd) to ſlip with the one foote, and yet by good ſtrength of his other leg, to recouer himſelfe without falling: [...]

   1596, William Lambarde, “The Goodwine, or Goodwine Sands: Lomea after Twyne”, in A Perambulation of Kent: Conteining the Description, Hystorie, and Customes of that Shyre. […], London: […] Edm[und?] Bollifant, →OCLC, page 107

   This Princeſs [Elizabeth I], in imitation of her Father Henry the Eighth did admit none about her for Penſioners, Privy Chamber-men, Squires of the Body, Carver's, Cupbearers, Sewers, &c. (that were not a few in number) but perſons of ſtature, ſtrength, and birth, [...]

   1683, Francis Osborn[e], “Some Traditional Memorials on the Reign of Q. Elizabeth”, in The Works of Francis Osborn, Esq; […], 9th edition, London: Printed, and are to be sold by the booksellers of London and Westminster, published 1689, →OCLC, paragraph 10, page 374

   [C]alling for Drink, one of the King's Cup-bearers that was accuſtomed to ſerve me, preſented the Cup with a troubled Look, and diſcompoſed Countenance: [...] taking the Cup from his Hands, I was carrying it to my Mouth, when Arſanes enter'd the Chamber, and haſtily running up to me, juſt as I touched the Cup with my Lips, he ruſhed against my Arm ſo rudely, as he made me let fall the Cup, [...]

   1736, [Gauthier de Costes, seigneur de la Calprenède], translated by Robert Loveday, Hymen’s Præludia: Or, Love’s Master-piece. Being that So-much-admir’d Romance, intitled, Cleopatra. […], volume I, London: […] J. Watson, […], →OCLC, part II, book I, page 78

   The cup-bearer shrugged his shoulders in displeasure. "I thought to have lodged him in the solere chamber," said he; "but since he is so unsocial to Christians, e'en let him take the next stall to Isaac the Jew's.— [...]"

   1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter VII, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 101

   The routine of the royal household required great swarms of servants, designated variously as cupbearers (scantiones), squires (scutiferi), pantlers (panetarii), cooks, and falconers, all of lesser importance than the chamberlain.

   1986, John W[esley] Baldwin, “The King’s New Men”, in The Government of Philip Augustus: Foundations of French Royal Power in the Middle Ages, 1st paperback edition, Berkeley; Los Angeles, Calif.; Oxford, Oxfordshire: University of California Press, published 1991, →ISBN, page 109

   Synonyms: cupper