Forms: 4 cheser, 5 chesar, 6–8 chuser, 6– chooser. [f. CHOOSE v. + -ER1.] One who chooses.
138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 413. Alle þes cheseris cannot telle wheþer þei han chose a fend.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 131. Beggers should be no choosers.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 40. The Iew and Ptolome, showne at the Bull, the one representing the greedinesse of worldly chusers, and bloody mindes of Usurers.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. vi. 11. Her selfe might be her chooser.
1678. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor. (1702), 414. We cannot be the Chusers of our own Parents, but of our Friends we may; and adopt our Selves into these Noble Families.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 425. Beggers must not be Chusers.
1870. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. l. 17. Pickers and choosers of God’s words.
† b. spec. An elector. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 309. He [schulde be pope] þat hadde þe more partye of þe chesers assentynge to his allectioun.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. vii. 16. The eliseurs or chesars ought more to pourueye to the wele of the offyce.
1642. Charles I., Answ. 19 Propos. Parl., 21. The people who chuse the Chusers.
1697. View of Penal Laws, 320. None shall be Choosers or Voters, but such as can expend 40s. per annum.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 755. A College, or court of choosers or electors.
1805. Ann. Rev., III. 289. The choosers vary every election.
