Forms: 3–6 warant, 5 warante, warente, 3–5 waraunt, (5 warawnt, 6 warantte), 6 waraunte, 6–7 warraunt, 6 warraunte, 6 warrante, (7 Sc. quarrente), 4– warrant; Sc. and north. 4–7 warand, 4–5 warande, 5 waronde, (6 woran, 5 warrane, 6–8 warran, waran, warn), 4 warrande, varrand, 5 werrand, 4– warrand. [a. OF. warant, warand, dial. var. of guarant, garant (mod.F. garant) = Pr. garen-s, guiren-s, Sp., Pg. garante, It. guarento, Frankish L. warens, warentem, warandus, -um; the Teut. source is represented by MLG. warend, warent, warranty, subst. use of pres. pple. of waren to warrant (= OFris. wara, early mod.Du. waren; early mod.G. wahren in legal formulas, from LG.), cogn. and synonymous with OHG. werên (MHG. wern, mod.G. währen, gewähren); cf. MHG. wari, ware, MDu. ware fem., warranty, and the synonymous MHG. were (mod.G. währe) fem.
The affinities of the root *wer-: *war- in these words are disputed: see K. v. Bahder in the Deutsches Wörterbuch (Grimm), s.vv. Wahre, Währe, Wahren, Währen.]
I. One who or something which protects or authorizes.
† 1. A protector, defender. Obs.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 8. Þu art iweddedes weole ant widewene warant.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 211. Beo mi scheld and mi warant on euche halfe aȝein þes feondes flon.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2067. Cum now forth with me,… For nou wile y youre warant be.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 455. Bi Mahoun, and bi Termagaunt, No mon schal be heore waraunt, Emperour ne kyng with croun.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 502. In commownys may nane affy, Bot he that may thar warrand be.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2583. For hir warand mai thou noght be, Bot thou allane fight with us thre.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 516/1. Warant, protector, defensor.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xliv. 455. On Goddis Enemyes now let vs gon In Iesus Name … Oure warawunt and Oure Governour, that vs wele Save In Every stour.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 8. The kyng craftely perswaded the saied byshop to make no answere, for he would be his warrant.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. cxxi. 5. The Lord is thy warrant alway, The Lord eke doth thee couer.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 111. Had not the Lord bene our warrand,… Thay had us all on liue deuorit.
a. 1600. Capt. Car, xv. in Trans. New Shaks. Soc. (1880–6), App. 54†. ‘Lap him in a shete,’ he sayth, ‘And let him downe to me, And I shall take him in my arme; His waran wyll I be.’
16[?]. Rising in North, vii. in Child, Ballads, III. 405/1. But goe to the court yet, good my lord, Take men enowe with thee; If any man will doe you wronge, Your warrant they may be.
a. 1828. Charlie Macpherson, iv. in Buchan, Ballads, I. 86. Jannie McRobbie, likewise Wattie Nairn, All ga’ed wi’ Charlie for to be his warran’.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xi. I swear to thee … by the shoulder of my horse, and the edge of my good sword, I will be thy warrand for a year and a day.
† 2. A safeguard, protection, defence. Obs.
a. 1272. Luue Ron, 27, in O. E. Misc., 94. Nis non so riche ne non so freo Þat he ne schal heonne sone away Ne may hit neuer his waraunt beo.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 183. Himself as a Geant þe cheynes in tuo hew, Þe targe was his warant, þat non tille him threw.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xii. 301. From deth thi waraunt this [sc. the Cross] schal be, And from Alle presonementis.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxii. 408. Whom that he raught a full stroke was so harde smyten that noo armure was his warante fro deth.
† 3. Security or safety from one’s enemies; also a place of refuge, shelter. Obs.
13[?]. Coer de L., 5749. Whom that he ovyr-raught that tyde, Off lyff ne was her waraunt non.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 422. Thai that saw sa suddandly That folk sa egirly cum prikand Betuix thame and thair varrand. Ibid., VIII. 485. And thai mycht help thaim-self no thing, Bot fled to varrand quhan thai mocht.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xlvii. 139. But elecor, that was ryght swyfte & lyght, fled toward the castel for his waraunt.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xvii. 9. The chiftanis … Socht to warrand on horsbak.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 119. Was prouydet, that nane of Jngland entir into Scotland,… without his kingis lettres for his defence and warran.
† b. To draw to warrant (cf. 5): to resort for protection to (a person). To hold in or to warrant: to keep (subjects) in safety, to protect. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1472. Coryneus … was a man als a Geaunt, Tyl hym þey drowe alle to waraunt.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 710. God grant that thai, that cummyne ar Of his ofspring, maynteyme the land, And hald the folk weill to warrand. Ibid., XX. 604. The gude erll gouernit the land, And held the pure weill to warand.
† 4. A guarantor, surety, bail. Sc. Obs.
1478. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 6/1. Gife þe said ser Johne has ony vþer to warand him, he sall haue priuilege to call þat warand.
c. 1575. Balfour’s Practicks (1754), 320. Ane beand callit and persewit for the singil and doubil avail of his mariage, may leasumlie call ony persoun for his warrand, quha is bund and oblist to warrand him thairanent.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., III. xii. 52. Quhen ane challenges fra the buyer anie thing, as thifteouslie stollen: the buyer sould defend him anent the thift alledged against him: or else to alledge and call ane warand there anent.
† b. Assurance given, pledge, guaranty. To take warrant on oneself (? quasi-arch.), to pledge oneself, make oneself responsible. Obs.
1460. Rolls of Parlt., V. 381/2. Prejudiciall to any … Ratification Confirmation or Warante.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 102. His worth is warrant for his welcome hether. Ibid. (1593), Rich. II., IV. 235. There should’st thou finde one heynous Article, Contayning the deposing of a King, And cracking the strong Warrant of an Oath. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. iii. 20. I give thee warrant of thy place. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. iv. 63. This Gentleman, at that time vouching (and vpon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more Faire, Vertuous,… then any, the rarest of our Ladies in France.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxi. I can take warrant upon myself for the innocence of my household and followers.
5. One who is answerable for a fact or statement; an authoritative witness. † To draw, take to warrant: to appeal to as evidence.
For to vouch to warrant, see VOUCH v. 1.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14651. He þat es fader of heuen king … Him drau i me to mi warand.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 547. Þei ich hir loue, blame me noman; To warant ichil drawe atte frome Þat loue doþ me þider come.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1539. To his waraunt he drouȝ His schippe and al his pride.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 5229. Þe Brut þer of is mi waraunt.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 6. This may I drawe to waraunte [F. trere à garant] An author, that hight Macrobes.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. Prol. 116. For few wrytis I redye fand That I couth draw to my warrand.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fox & Wolf, 2148. Wend quhen ȝe will, I dar be warrand now That ȝe sall de na suddan deith this day.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 48. A manifest deceite before the Lorde, and one daye shall be answered for, I dare be their warrante.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 225. If insufficient faith have done thus much,… More would move mountains, you are warrant.
b. A conclusive proof.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 1142. Thys lettere there-of [sc. of Lancelot’s innocence] warannte wolle be.
1860. Hawthorne, Transf., III. ii. 21. Though but a single word, and the first that he had spoken, its tone was a warrant of the sad and tender depth from which it came.
† 6. One whose command justifies an action. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14968. Gais fotte hir me, if animan Lais apon yow hand To lette yow, ye sai yee hal Þe lauerd to your warand.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 138/2. You are not here in your own proper names, men shall not be your warrants, it is God that must gouerne aboue al.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxii. Janet, alarm the house!—Foster, break open the door—I am detained here by a traitor!—Use axe and lever, Master Foster—I will be your warrant!
7. Command or permission of a superior which frees the doer of an act from blame or legal responsibility; authorization, sanction; an act of authorization.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18426. And if þe yate-ward þe witstand, Sa him þou has ful gode warand.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 135. He bygan rabbisliche to passe his waraunt [L. fines creditae sibi potestatis petulanter excedere] in absens of þe kyng.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Prose), ii. 5. He [sc. the abbot] ah na þing at cumande bot þat he may haue warant at god.
c. 1440. York Myst., xvii. 67. For haue we his wille and his warande Þan may we wende with-outen drede.
1453. Rolls of Parlt., V. 268/2. That noo Letters Patentes … be made hereafter, but by Warrant of bill, enselid by the Tresorer of Englond.
c. 1480. Henryson, Poems, III. 173. Now wrang hes warrane, and law is bot wilfulness.
1547–8. Ordre Commun., 8. Where as he hath no warrant of God’s worde for thesame.
1563. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 249. This present ordinance salbe sufficient warrand to thame.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 15. I … have by warrant of the same commission brought with me my Brother Phylomusus.
1629. in A. I. Ritchie, Ch. St. Baldred (1880), 219. The minister … culd not gett sik quarrente to punishe the prophaners of the Sabbothe in tyme of draife.
1635. D. Dickson, Hebr. x. 2. 199. Hee that is purged by Vertue of the sacrifice of Christ, hath God’s Warrand, to haue a quyet and peaceable Conscience.
1637. Star Chamb. Decree, § 4, in Arber, Milton’s Areop., 11. Euery person and persons, which … shall be appointed or authorized to Licence Bookes, or giue Warrant for imprinting thereof.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxix. That Assembly, which is without warrant from the Civil Soveraign, is unlawful.
1683. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 84. That it was Convenient Warrant should be sent from this board.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. v. (1857), 85. The Spanish monarch determined to ease his conscience, by obtaining, if possible, a warrant for his proceedings from the Church itself.
b. A token or evidence of authorization. (Cf. branch II.)
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 201. Thei … have him thilke lettre rad, Which he hem sende for warant.
1595. Q. Eliz., in Rymer, Foedera (1705), XVI. 282. And thes our Letters shall be your sufficient Warraunt and Discharge in that behalf.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., King & No K., IV. ii. Bac. It was your own command, to barr none from him, Besides, the Princess sent her ring Sir, for my warrant.
1614. in Rymer, Foedera (1705), XVI. 767. To the end sufficient Warrant may remayne here in our Exchequer for the Payment of the said Annuity, our Pleasure is … that you cause a Duplicate of the said Graunt to be sealed with our said Great Seale, and the same … to be sent to our said Exchequer.
1635. D. Dickson, Hebr. xi. 8. 255. Fayth is willing to obey, as soone as it seeth a Warrand.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xiv. 110. He produced an old rusty sword and cried, ‘See, my lords, here is my warrant.’
c. Scots Law. Jedge and warrant, ‘the authority given by the Dean of Guild to repair a ruinous tenement’ (W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot.).
1715. Morison’s Dict. Decis. (1806), XXXIII. 14521. Deacon Brownhill … obtained jedge and warrant from the Dean of Guild, for taking down and rebuilding a ruinous house.
1816. G. J. Bell, Comm. Law Scot. (1826), I. 750. The judicial process of Jedge and Warrant creates a real burden on a burgage tenement, which will be effectual against creditors and purchasers.
8. Justifying reason or ground for an action, belief, or feeling.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxv. Sith his promise is our plaine warrant, that in his name what we aske we shall receyue.
1609. Alex. Hume, Admon., 365, Wks. (S.T.S.), 176. Ye wer eschamed … to be called Lordis … whiche wes a takin ye had no guid warrand in your conscience for it.
1622[?]. Fletcher, Love’s Cure, IV. iv. Gen. Nay you are rude; pray you forbear, you offer now More than the breeding of a Gentleman Can give you warrant for.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 413. I have applyed these promises, but upon what warrant, upon what ground have I done it?
1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 786. But for a Lady no ways Errant To free a Knight, we have no warrant In any Authentical Romance.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, i. 2. Intending … not to offer anything but what hath due warrant from Observations.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., John xviii. 11. Good intentions are no warrant for irregular actions.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 183. Canst thou … Trade in the blood of innocence, and plead Expedience as a warrant for the deed?
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, vii. We relate it as it is given by an ancient and uniform tradition, which carries in it great indications of truth, and is warrant enough, perhaps, for its insertion in graver histories than the present.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Demerara, ii. 23. But that they will die out the slave history of Europe is our warrant.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxi. (1862), 333. Still there is no warrant for ascribing to then such treachery here.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlvii. Florence took her seat … with an uneasiness amounting to dread. She had no other warrant for it than the occasion, the expression of her father’s face [etc.].
1862. Spencer, First Princ., II. iv. § 53 (1875), 174. This last fact naturally raises the question, whether we have any higher warrant for this fundamental belief than the warrant of conscious induction.
1893. Daily News, 15 April, 3/7. Another painter who repeats himself this year, but with more warrant, is Mr. Herbert Marshall.
† b. Phrases. Of (good) warrant: ? held in esteem, important. Out of warrant: unlawful. Obs.
In quot. c. 1330 the sense may be ‘well-defended’: cf. 2.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 4210. Til þai com to Norhant, A fair cite of gode waraunt.
1576. Charter at Thirkleby Park (MS.). Prouyded also that nether the said Henry Procter … shall fell or cutt doune any oke trez eshe trez crabtrez or other wood of warrant.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. i. 38. Marry Sir, heere’s my drift, And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant. Ibid. (1604), Oth., I. ii. 79. I therefore … do attach thee, For … a practiser Of Arts inhibited, and out of warrant.
II. A document conveying authority or security.
9. A writing issued by the sovereign, an officer of state, or an administrative body, authorizing those to whom it is addressed to perform some act.
Premier’s warrant (Cape Colony), an order given by the Premier on his own responsibility, authorizing expenditure for the public service in some sudden emergency.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 306. Then this abbot gate a warrant of the kynge, and at London callyd dyuerse offycers before hym, for to yelde to hym theyr accompte.
1551. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 56. A warraunt from kynge Edward ffor ffurnyshyng of A tryeumfe.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 154. Antonius Triumuir,… whan Varros name … was brought in a schedule vnto him, to be noted to death, he tooke his penne and wrote his warrant of sauegard with these most goodlie wordes, Viuat Varro vir doctissimus.
1682. Fountainhall, Hist. Observes (Bannatyne Club), 73. He had coined a quantity of copper beyond the 3000 stone contained in his Majesties warrands.
1711. Swift, Lett. to Abp. King, 4 Jan. Mr. secretary St. John … told me from Mr. Harley that I need not to be in pain about the first-fruits, for the warrant was drawn in order toward a patent: but must … take up some time, for the queen designs to make a grant by her letters-patent.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. ii. 171. As soon as the parliament is summoned, the lord chancellor … sends his warrant to the clerk of the crown in chancery; who thereupon issues out writs to the sheriff of every county, for the election of all the members to serve for that county, and for every city and borough therein.
1800. Wellington, in Gurwood, Desp. (1834), I. 150. You will easily perceive the difference in the warrant and in the other papers from those usually given for a General Court Martial.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, iii. The indigent blind … from the adjoining state of Connecticut, or from the states of Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire, are admitted by a warrant from the state to which they respectively belong.
1853. Stocqueler, Milit. Encycl., Warrant,… also a document under the sign manual, to authorize the assembling of a general court-martial, &c.
1880. Adye in 19th Cent., April, 697. The general provisions of the warrant were, that military rank, rising according to length of service, with commensurate pay and pension, should be given to all who entered.
Proverb. 1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, i. (1871), 12. ‘A warrant seald with butter!’ as we say.
† b. A licence to go abroad. Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. iii. 5. I have got a Warrant from the Lords of the Councell to travell for three years any where, Rome and S. Omer excepted.
† c. Warrant-dormant: see DORMANT a. 2 b.
1423. Proc. Privy Counc. (1834), III. 85. That it like to zour grace to graunt letters of warant dormaunt … to the seyd Tresorer commaundyng hym to pay to the seyd Thomas the seyd somme fro tyme to tyme.
1551, 1614. [see DORMANT a. 2 b].
fig. 1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 208. A man may haue for money a warrant dormant, or dispensation to commit sinnes.
10. A writ or order issued by some executive authority, empowering a ministerial officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, to execute a judicial sentence, or to do other acts incident to the administration of justice. In early use, † letter of warrant.
See also BENCH-warrant, DEATH-WARRANT, PRESS-WARRANT, SEARCH-warrant.
a. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 53. He ȝeode to hom þat haden þe lawe of Iewes to kepe, and gete hym lettyrs of warant, forto take and bryng all crysten men and woymen … bonden ynto Ierusalem, forto take hor deth þer.
1464. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 185. Iohn Boteler of Herwesche is on of the iij. that was arested at the same towen be Pertones warente.
1528. in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 200. My gude lorde, if that ȝe wold … send to me a hunderyd worans for the delyverans of a hunderyd ffreeres that [etc.]. Ibid. If ye wold be so gode to sende to me iij. or iiij waranttes with a space for ther namys, I wer bonde to yow.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 70. This is the man should do the bloody deed: He shew’d his warrant to a friend of mine.
1620. Rowlands, Nt. Raven, 33. A Warrant to a Constable was sent, Of speciall charge, disorder to preuent.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgr., III. vi. The Justice keeps such a stir yonder with his Charges, And such a coil with warrants.
1623. Cockeram, II. A Warrant to commit one, Mittimus.
a. 1634. Coke, Inst., IV. (1648), 176. One or more Iustice or Iustices of Peace cannot make a warrant upon a bare surmise to break any mans house to search for a Felon, or for stoln goods.
1635. Life Long Meg of Westminster, xv. (1816), 24. Come in, master Constable,… let me see your warrant, what suspected persons you seeke for in my house.
1697. Congreve, Mourn. Bride, IV. i. Wherefore a Warrant for his Death is sign’d.
1724. W. Hawkins, Pleas Crown, II. (ed. 2), 117. The Habeas Corpus Act, seems to suppose, That all Persons who are committed to Prison, are there detained by Virtue of some Warrant in Writing.
1726–31. Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng. (1743), II. XVII. 89. Which made her sign a Warrant to send the Duke of Norfolk to the Tower.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parish, v. This is my warrant of distress, mum. Ibid. (1836), Visit to Newgate. When the warrant for a prisoner’s execution arrives, he is removed to the cells, [etc.].
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, V. ix. There’s a warrant from the Secretary of State for your release.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, vi. You see, I’m in trouble, there’s a warrant out against me, and I must fly.
1874. ‘Max Adeler,’ Out of Hurly-Burly, xiv. 223. It was a constable with a warrant for her arrest.
1891. Law Times, XC. 373/1. The magistrate … granted an English warrant on which the prisoner was now under arrest.
b. General warrant: a warrant for the apprehension of the persons suspected of an offence, no individual being named or particularly described in special.
According to Blackstone, the practice of issuing general warrants, founded on some clauses in the Acts (of Charles II.) for regulating the press, was inadvertently continued after those Acts expired in 1694, and (except during the last four years of Queen Anne) remained down to 1763. In that year the arrest of John Wilkes on a general warrant raised the question of the legality of such warrants. In 1765 the Court of King’s Bench decided that they were illegal, and in 1766 this was affirmed by a vote of the House of Commons.
1657. Bulstrode, Rep., I. 46. Williams Iustice, this is a most perilous example, to breake a mans house in the night, by force, and by vertue of a generall warrant.
1763. A. B., Lett., 7 May, in Gentl. Mag., XXXIII. 246. The question, Whether a Secretary of State can grant a general warrant against authors, printers, and publishers, without naming any names … remains yet to be determined.
1766. Jrnls. Ho. Comm., 22 April, 753/2. Resolved, That a General Warrant for apprehending the Author, Printer, or Publisher, of a Libel is illegal.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xxi. 288.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 380/1.
11. A writing that authorizes one person to pay or deliver, and to another to receive, a sum of money.
For dividend warrant, share warrant, see the first words.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 439/1. Many Warantis come to me of paiementz.
1470[?]. Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 115. He had it [the money] in grete for that his labour, and a warrant made to Harre Dogett to pay yt.
1555. Eden, Decades, II. VII. (Arb.), 127. A warrant to thofficers of his escheker to delyuer hym money in preste.
1613. in Rymer, Foedera (1705), XVI. 742. The Somme of Two Thousand Pounds, now by Warrant of our Exchequer appointed to bee delivered unto you.
1794. Rep. Committees Ho. Comm., XII. 364. Warrant for the Pay, &c. of the 11th Regiment of Foot, for 365 Days.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., Warrant.… Likewise a document with the sign manual attached to it, to authorize the receipt of public monies at the treasury, &c.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 551. Sir Thomas Cook … had merely told them in general terms that he had been at a charge of twenty three thousand, of twenty five thousand, of thirty thousand pounds,… and his colleagues had … ordered warrants for these great sums to be instantly made out.
1912. Times, 19 Oct., 18/5. (Company’s report) Third interim dividend of 75 per cent. (actual), less tax, in respect of the year ending December 31. Warrants will be posted on January 14.
† 12. A voucher, certificate. Obs.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 455/1. Youre Custumers … writen no Warants in discharge of youre said Merchantz.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 172. He … caried a warrant also with him, that he had at Sandwich paid the custome due vnto our lord the king.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 10. And a Gentleman borne (Master Parson) who writes himself Armigero, in any Bill, Warrant, Quittance or Obligation, Armigero.
13. A form of receipt given to a person who has deposited goods in a warehouse, by assignment of which the title to the goods is transferred.
1825. Act 6 Geo. IV., c. 94 § 2. Any Person … in Possession of any Bill of Lading, India Warrant, Dock Warrant,… Warrant or Order for Delivery of … Merchandize described … in the said several Documents.
1861. Times, 10 July, 11/5. On two occasions in September last he had received warrants for wine of the bankrupt, and had advanced money on them without charging interest.
1864. A. Miller, Rise & Progr. Coatbridge, iv. 27. The stock of ‘good merchantable brands’ [of iron] at present in store, represented by ‘warrants’ is 280,000 tons.
1870. Act 33 & 34 Vict., c. 97. Schedule, [Stamp Duties] Warrant for Goods.
1875. Economist, 2 Jan., 6/1. Scotch pig iron [warrants] per ton. 103/.
1894. Daily News, 19 March, 3/7. Makers … have very little stock, the bulk of the iron being in the shape of warrants.
1912. Pitman’s Commerc. Encycl., III. 876. Iron Warrants, or warrants for iron, differ from warrants for other goods, since by the custom of the iron trade, an indorsee of the warrant obtains the goods free from any vendor’s claim for purchase money.
14. Mil. and Naval. An official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer. Cf. WARRANT OFFICER.
1786. Grose, Milit. Antiq., I. 316, note. The commissioned staff officers of a corps of infantry are the chaplain, adjutant, quarter master, and surgeon. The surgeons’ mates, though reckoned among the staff, have only warrants from the colonel.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., Warrant, a writ of authority inferior to a commission: thus quartermasters are warrant officers.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Warrant, the name given to a sort of commission or authority to those officers appointed by the Navy-Board, while the authorities granted by the Admiralty are styled commissions.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Warrant,… a commission from the Admiralty to petty officers of a vessel of war.
b. Short for WARRANT OFFICER.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 74. He’s marry’d as well as his Brother Warrants.
1904. Kipling, Traffics & Discov., 349. She kep’ a little hotel for warrants and noncoms close to Auckland.
15. Warrant of attorney: a formal document by which a person appoints another to perform certain acts on his behalf: = letter, power of attorney. See ATTORNEY2.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 20 § 2. All Warant of Attourney made … by the said Kateryne Agnes and Edward … in the said Appelys [shall] be utterly voyde.
1747. Gentl. Mag., XVII. 495/2. The new lord mayor … was sworn at the Exchequer bar, and having recorded warrants of attorney in the proper courts, returned to a magnificent entertainment at Guildhall.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xxiv. 397. It is very usual, in order to strengthen a bond-creditor’s security, for the debtor to execute a warrant of attorney to any one empowering him to confess a judgment … in an action of debt to be brought by the creditor for the specific sum due.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xx. And if he gives us a warrant of attorney, as he must in the end, I know his employers will see it paid.
1870. Act 33 & 34 Vict., c. 97. Schedule, [Stamp Duties] Warrant of Attorney to confess and enter up a judgment given as a security for the payment or repayment of money, or for the transfer or retransfer of stock. See Mortgage, &c. … Warrant of Attorney of any other kind, 0 10 0.
III. ? Concrete uses of sense 2.
16. north. ‘A mill-dam in a stream’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.). Now written warren.
1406–7. Priory of Finchale (Surtees), p. cxxxvii. In expensis pro le warand pro defensione molendini et fleme.
1457–8. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 637. Et sol. eisdem operantibus apud le Warraunte Molendini Abbathie.
1531–2. Durham Househ. Bk. (Surtees), 82. Ad molendinum de Sheylez,… super le warrant ibidem.
1901. Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees), III. Gloss., Warraunte. Millers in Durham and North Yorkshire say that the ‘Warrant’ is the mill-dam, and that it is pronounced War’n’…. So Halliwell, ‘Warren-head, a dam across a river in the more northern parts of Northumberland.’
† 17. Archery. (See quot.). Obs.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvii. (Roxb.), 117/1. The Warrants, are Knots in a Bow, which are left strong there for the securing of it.
IV. 18. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 9) warrant-book; (sense 13) warrant-market, stock; (sense 14) warrant machinist, mechanician, rank; warrant holder, a tradesman who has written authority to supply goods to the household of the king or a member of the royal family; † warrant-man (see quot. 1746); † warrant-parol, a judicial sentence given by word of mouth.
1873. Nairne, Peerage Evid. (1874), 14. Do you produce from the General Record Office a *Warrant Book for Scotland, containing entries of the date of January 1681? I do.
1893. Daily News, 12 June, 5/8. The Association of her Majesty’s and the Prince and Princess of Wales’s *Warrant Holders.
1902. Monthly Rev., Aug., 93. Admiral Melville, in his report dealing with the *warrant machinists of the U.S. Navy, says [etc.].
1746. Rep. Committees Ho. of Comm., II. 100. But the real Charge being greater, as there are a Number of fictitious Names allowed upon the Muster Rolls by Warrant, called *Warrant-men.
1896. Daily News, 28 Dec., 3/7. The Cleveland *warrant market has been stronger, and 40s. 10d. is asked by sellers.
1906. Daily Chron., 12 April, 6/7. [A stoker] eligible for advancement to the rank of *warrant mechanician.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 363. And by this *warrant-parol [L. hoc elogio] the eloquent man lost his life.
1903. Daily Chron., 9 Nov., 3/2. Boys passing through training ships … can ultimately reach *warrant rank.
Hence † Warrantship = GUARANTEESHIP.
1702. Anguis in Herba, 63. There is but one way to warrant this Peace; and that is, we must enter into a League of Warrantship with the Emperor, the Empire, the Dutch, and all other Nations.
