Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 gettour, 4–6 getter, (5 gettare, 6 -ar); β. 4 iectour, 5 iettoure, -ir, 6 iettar, 4–7 ietter. [ME. a. AF. *gettour = (in form) OF. geteor, -our, -eur, getteur, jetteur (also, 15th c., (after Lat.) gecteur, jecteur) thrower, caster (= It. gettatore):—pop.L. jettātōr-em = cl.L. jactātōr-em ‘one who makes an ostentatious display of himself, a boaster, a braggart,’ agent-n. from jactāre: cf. JET v.1 The sense in Eng. (prob. in AFr.) was app. taken from L. jactātor, as no similar sense is recorded in continental French.]
One who boasts, vaunts, or makes an ostentatious display; a swaggering or roystering fellow; a braggadocio, bully, ‘blade,’ ‘spark.’
α. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 761. Þys gentyl men, þys gettours Þey ben but Goddys turmentours.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 281. Grete festis of riche men, as officeris of þe bischop and getteris of countre. Ibid., Wks. (1880), 23. Þei … hanten tauernys of wyn and ale, aboute strumpetis … and gay squyeris and oþere getteris.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 192/1. Gettare, gestulator, gestuosus.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 616. This yere … was a great affray in Fletestrete, atwene ye getters of the innys of court, and the inhabytauntes of the same strete.
1530. Palsgr., 225/1. Gettar a braggar, fringuereau.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), H. The hatred that this emperour had to trewandes, reuelers, getters, iuglers, gesters.
β. c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 242. Many ietteris of contre þat wolen make hem self gentel men and han litel or nouȝt to lyue onne. Ibid., Sel. Wks., III. 195. Manye whanne þei ben drounken comen hom … fro here cursed strumpatis and jectouris of contre, and chiden.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4415. Iupiter [was] a Iettoure þat Iapid many ladis. Ibid., 4504. Dame Iuno was a iettir and ioyned full of iree.
1530. Palsgr., 234/1. Iettar of nyght season, brigvevr.
1611. Cotgr., Fringuereau, a ietter, spruce minion, gay fellow, compt youth.
