[f. CARVE v. + -ER1.]
1. gen. One who carves or cuts.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 320. Clipperis and purse-kerveris.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xx. (1495), 125. Of the teeth some ben keruers.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learning (1873), 56. A carver or a divider of cummin seed.
2. spec. One who carves wood, ivory, stone, etc.; a sculptor: most frequently (when not otherwise qualified) applied to one who carves in wood.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1041. Ne portreyour, ne kerver of ymages.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., xxii. § 1. A Freemason … Tyler, Plommer, Glasier, Kerver nor Joyner.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 311. The painter or keruers craft.
1605. Tryall Chev., IV. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 336. A cunning Carver had cut out thy shape … in white alabaster.
1754. Dodsley, Agric., II. 262 (R.). Smooth linden best obeys The carver’s chissel.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 604. The carver, the gilder, and the paper-hanger.
1840. Hood, Kilmansegg, Death, xvii. Its foreman, a carver and gilder.
† b. attrib. (A tree) used for carving.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 9. The carver holme, the maple seldom inly sound.
3. One who carves at table.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VI. 435. Whom the kynges kerver hurte soore.
a. 1450. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 446. To bere his swerd & be his keruere tofore him.
1509–10. Act 1 Hen. VIII., xiv. Hys Cuppe berers Carvours and Sewers.
1670. Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 16. Several carvers cut up all the meat at a side table.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4672/1. First Carver, and Brother to the Empress.
Mod. An expert carver.
b. A carving knife. A pair of carvers: a carving knife and fork.
1840. Thackeray, Catherine, ii. You had got the carver out of her hand.
† 4. fig. One who assigns any one his ‘portion.’ † To be one’s own carver: to take or choose for oneself at one’s own discretion. Obs.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 55. In this poynte I meane not to be mine owne caruer. Ibid. (1598), Moth. Bombie (Halliw.). Neither father nor mother, kith nor kinne shall bee her carver in a husband.
1583. Babington, Commandm. (1590), 343. That euerie Souldier should be his owne caruer and take what he can get.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. v. § 7. II. 595. Plainly told them, that the Romans would be their owne Carvers, and take what they thought good.
1645. Bp. Hall, Contentation, 39. Wee are ill carvers for our selves; hee that made us, knows vvhat is fit for us.
a. 1714. Abp. J. Sharp, Serm., I. i. (R.). He himself, were he to be the carver of his fortunes … would chuse for himself.
1797. Holcroft, Stolberg’s Trav., li. (ed. 2), 250. Peter … has … been the carver of his own fortune.
