v., also 7 accoustre, acoutre. [a. MFr. accoustre-r (mod. accoutrer), of uncertain origin; prob. f. à to + coustre, coutre, a sacristan or vestry keeper, who robed the clergyman: see Littré and Skeat. The Fr. accoustrer was in 16th c. pronounced accoutrer (Cotgr., 1611, has both spellings), whence accoutre is the ordinary Eng. form; accoustre occurs less commonly in 17th c.] To attire, equip, array. (Rare except in the pa. pple. ACCOUTRED.)
1606. Dekker, Seven Sins, II. (Arb.), 19. Another therefore of the Broode … aptly accoustred, and armed Cap-a-pe.
1659. Lady Alimony, II. vi., in Hazl., Dodsl., XIV. 322. But hark you, madam; what be those brave blades That thus accoutre you.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, 55. So gallant a company so bravely accoutred.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2182/4. There could not be a finer body of men, nor better accoutred.
1706. Phillips, To accouter, to dress, attire, or trim.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, IV. xi. 335. He accoutred me with other necessaries, all new.
1755. Croker, Ariosto’s Orl. Fur., XLVI. xlvi. II. 407. Leon his ’squires commanded, him to take, Accoutre him, and fit for Ruggier make.
1849. Dickens, B. Rudge, i. 3 (C. D. ed.). He … was accoutred in a riding dress.
1869. Pall Mall G., 13 Oct., 4. The new system of accoutring the soldier can only be introduced gradually.
