One who carries a cup; an officer of a king’s or nobleman’s household who served his master with wine.
1483. Cath. Angl., 75. A Copberer, ciphigerulus.
1509–10. Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 14. Esquyers for the Kynges body hys Cuppe berers Carvours and Sewers.
1611. Bible, Neh. i. 11. For I was the kings cup-bearer.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 263. The cup-bearer carries round wine which he draws from the bowl and pours into the cups.
