Obs. (exc. as Latin.) [L. custos. Formerly treated as Eng. with pl. custoses: now consciously Latin, with pl. custodes.]
1. A keeper, guardian, warden, custodian.
1465. Mercers’ Rec., in Blades, Life Caxton, 150. John lambert John Warde John Baker John Alburgh, Custoses.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., Pref. 1. The vertue of history … hath to her custos and kepar, it (that is to say, tyme)(, whiche consumeth the other writynges.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 158. The king … made Stephen Edworth Constable of the Tower, and Custos of the Citie of London.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., 197. In the absence and minority of the Kings … divers Clergymen have beene Custosses or Viceroyes of the Kingdome.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 166. The senior pupil and Custos of the room.
1878. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 112. On the 21st [April 1430] Gloucester was appointed lieutenant and custos of the kingdom.
2. In certain Latin titles retained more or less in general use.
† Custos brevium (‘Keeper of the briefs’): an officer in the Courts of King’s Bench and Common Pleas, who had the custody of writs, warrants, and other documents.
Custos rotulorum: the principal Justice of the peace in a county, who has the custody of the rolls and records of the sessions of the peace.
Custos sigilli: the Keeper of the Seal.
1542–3. Act 34–35 Hen. VIII., c. 27 § 53. There shall be … one custos rotulorum in euery of the sayd twelue shires.
1654. View Regul. Chancery, 49. The Custos brevium in the Court of Common-Pleas which hath been an office usually granted by Letters-Patent from before the Reign of Edw. I.
1696. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 202. Mr. Fowkes, who hath the custos brevium office in the kings bench court.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xvii. 274. The Lord Lieutenant, or rather the Custos Rotulorum in each county.
