Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 5 ward(e)ropere, Sc. wardropar, 5–7 wardroper, (6 werdroper), 6 Sc. wardraipper, -raipair, 5 warderober, 5– wardrober. [ad. OF. warderobier, dial. var. of garderobier, -rober, f. warde-, garderobe: see prec.]
1. An officer of a royal household who had charge of the robes, wearing apparel, etc.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 481, in Babees Bk. Þo vsshere schalle bydde þo wardropere Make redy for alle nyȝt be-fore þe fere.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xviii. 2867. Prewaly his wardropere He gert to þis Robert ber. Ibid., 2877. Þe siluir to þe wardropar He gaf.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. xxxiv. (1554), 214. By processe he was made wardropere.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 276. The King buskit him sone, with scant of Squyary. Wachis and Wardroparis all war away.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, li. Of James Dog, kepar of the Quenis wardrop…. The Wardraipper of Wenus boure, To giff a doublett he is als doure, As it war off ane futt syd frog.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. viii. 275. One who had well licked his fingers under Queen Margaret (whose Wardroper he was).
1878. J. Gairdner, Rich. III., iv. 129. An indenture dated the 27th of June in the first year of Richard III., in which Peter Curteys, the king’s wardrober, undertakes to furnish by the 3rd of July the articles specified for the coronation of King Richard.
† 2. The tailor attached to a religious house. Obs.
1526. Visit. Dioc. Norwich (Camden), 200. Uxor scissoris videlicet the wardroper’s wiff.
