Also 4 Walschrie; 7 Welshrye, 9 Welshery. [f. WELSH a. + -RY, or ad. med.L. Walescheria (1249).]
† 1. Welshmen or Welsh people collectively. Obs.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), II. 244. After þam alle he sent, To fend þe Walschrie with him at þer powere.
2. That part of a town or county (inhabited by English and Welsh) which is appropriated to the Celtic population, as distinguished from the ENGLISHRY.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire, iv. (1891), 38. This Shere is taken to be devided into two partes, that is to the Englishrie, and Welshrye as shall be more lardglie declared hereafter.
1804. J. Evans, Tour S. Wales, 256. This country [in Pembrokeshire] is still divided into what is called the Englishry and Welshery; the latter, containing the original inhabitants.
1862. Borrow, Wild Wales, II. xxx. 347. ‘I have no Welsh, sir,’ said she. ‘How is that?’ said I; ‘this village is I think in the Welshery.’
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 338. Up to the time of Æthelstan Exeter had remained … a common possession of Teutonic and Celtic inhabitants. No doubt there was an English and a Welsh town, an Englishry and a Welshry.
3. Welsh origin or nationality.
1894. Grant Allen, in Westm. Gaz., 21 Sept., 2/1. Sometimes … I have even known them indignantly deny the imputation of Welshry.
