Obs. Forms: 4 fosser, 4–5 forcere, (5 foorcere, forcyer), forser, (6 fo(r)sar), 5–6 focer, (6 fostler), 4–7, 9 Hist. forcer. [a. OF. forcer, forcier. Cf. It. forziere.]
A chest, coffer, or casket.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 263.
| Her were a forser for þe in faye, | |
| If þou were a gentyl Iueler. |
c. 1400. The Sowdone of Babyloyne, 2303.
| I have a girdil in my Forcer, | |
| Who so girde hem ther-with aboute, | |
| Hunger ner thirste shal him neuer dere, | |
| Though he were vij yere with-oute. |
c. 1460. La Belle Dame sanz Mercy, 65, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 54.
| Fortune with strengthe the forcere hath vnshete | |
| where-ynne was spradde al my worldly richesse. |
1530. Palsgr., 203/1. Casket or fosar, escrain.
1531. in Weaver, Wells Wills (1890), 148. My wif shall have her coffer and her fostler to her own use with all things pertaining.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 244. Athanasius went about traiterously to defeat the Emperors Edicts, in sending to one Philumenus a basket or forsar full of gold.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., Suppl. Summ. 2. Any Painted Wares, Forsers, Caskets … are forfeited if any such be Imported into England or Wales. Vide Stat. 4 Edw. 4.
1863. Sir G. G. Scott, Glean. Westm. Abb. (ed. 2), 96. A forcer, a receptacle for documents, not unlike a kettledrum in shape; it is bound with thin strips of iron, and has one lock and provision for four padlocks.
Comb.
1411. Close Roll, 12 Hen. IV., b. Johannes Whiteberd, forcermaker.
