Also 6–7 vauter, vawter, 7 vautor. [f. VAULT v.2] One who vaults or leaps. Also fig. (quot. 1579).
α. 1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Amphippi,… vauters from one horse to an other.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 36. Euery Vawter in one blinde Tauerne or other is Tenant at will, to which shee tolleth resorte.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1278. Demetrius … was well content to heare himselfe called Jupiter Καταιβάτης, that is to say, the vawter.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 226. The Numidians,… in manner of vauters,… could leap from the weary horse to a fresh.
1647. Hexham, I. (Of Weights), A weight of Lead that Leapers, Vauters or Dauncers on ropes hold in their hands.
β. 1552. Huloet, Vaulter on a horse, desultor.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Desultor, a vaulter that leapeth vp and downe from a horse.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 230. He had two Tumblers or Vaulters, one an Englishman, the other an Italian.
1694. Martens’ Voy. Spitzbergen, in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. 116. They put them upwards together, as the Vaulters do when they jump over Swords.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 258, ¶ 3. Why should not Rope-dancers, Vaulters, Tumblers,… and Posture-makers appear again on our Stage?
1791. Cowper, Odyss., XVIII. 317. Since fame reports the Trojans … nimble vaulters to the backs of steeds.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxiv. The band of renowned Bohemian vaulters and tumblers.
1884. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 301/1. If you want … fame as … a vaulter, or a heaver of heavy weights, the Manhattan is your club.
transf. 1815. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., iv. (1816), I. 102. The encomium which he bestows upon these vigilant little vaulters.
a. 1825. L. Hunt, To Grasshopper & Cricket, 1. Green little vaulter in the sunny grass.
