Obs. [f. CONFINE sb. or v. (1, 2) + -ER1. (Daniel accents confi·ner.)] 1. One who dwells on the confines; a borderer, neighbor.

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1599.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 11. The … Franchises, and privileges she [Yarmouth] is endowed with, beyond all her confiners.

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1656.  Earl Monm., Advt. fr. Parnass., 225. We are … become no longer confiners, but inland inhabiters.

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a. 1682.  Sir T. Browne, Tracts, xii. 187. [He] may be a terrour unto the confiners on that sea.

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  b.  transf. and fig.

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1624.  Wotton, Archit., in Reliq. Wotton. (1672), 19. Lime and Wood are insociable, and … unfit Confiners.

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1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 609. The Participles or Confiners between Plants and Living Creatures, are such chiefly, as are Fixed … as are Oysters, Cockles, and such like.

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  2.  One living within the confines, an inhabitant.

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1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, I. lxix. Happie confiners you of other landes.

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1611.  Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 337. The Senate hath stirr’d vp the Confiners, And Gentlemen of Italy.

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