[a. F. liste = Sp., Pg., It. lista; prob. identical with LIST sb.3, the special sense being developed from that of ‘strip’ (of paper): see LIST sb.3 4.] A catalogue or roll consisting of a row or series of names, figures, words, or the like. In early use, esp. a catalogue of the names of persons engaged in the same duties or connected with the same object; spec. a catalogue of the soldiers of an army or of a particular arm; also in † phr. in or within the list(s, in list (occas. fig.).
Active list, a list of those officers in the army or navy who are liable to be called upon for active service. Free list, (a) a list of persons who are allowed free admission to a place of entertainment; (b) a list of articles that are exempt from duty under the revenue laws. Also army list, CIVIL LIST, retired list, sick list, etc. (see the first words).
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 98. Young Fortinbras … Hath … Shark’d vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes. Ibid., ii. 32. The Leuies, The Lists, and full proportions are all made Out of his subiect. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. vi. 76. The Thracian King Adullas … The Kings of Mede, and Licoania, With a more larger List of Scepters. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., IV. i. 14. ’Tis the List Of those that claime their Offices this day.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, IV. iii. 130. Pioners … are not reckoned Souldiers, neither come neere by many degrees either to that list or reputation.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Youth & Age (Arb.), 257. He was the Ablest Emperour, almost, of all the List.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., I. i. (1810), 3. To bee in list 3000 Foot, and 250 Horse.
1646. Evance, Noble Ord., 20. You will not be out of the List long.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, IV. 157. The Battalion was of eight thousand foot, and the Archers of the List.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. v. § 10. Their Fear brought in a false List of their Enemies Number.
1696. Phillips (ed. 5), List, a Scrowl of the Names of several Persons of the same Quality with whom we have Business, or with whom we have some Relation. A List of the Slain and Wounded in such a Battel. A List of such a ones Creditors. A List of the Prisoners in such a Prison.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., I. 284. Endless is the list of human ills.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), VII. 383/2. The letter-founders have a kind of list, or tariff, whereby they regulate their founts.
1809. Ld. Mulgrave, in G. Rose’s Diaries (1860), II. 358. His name being removed from the List of the Navy.
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xx. Edward took a list of the contents.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. ii. She keeps a little list of her lovers.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 4. 128. The earliest classical revival restored Cæsar and Virgil to the list of monastic studies.
b. Racing slang. Short for: The list of geldings in training. Hence to put on the list = to castrate.
1890. Farmer, Slang, Added to the List, an abbreviation of ‘added to the list of geldings in training.’
† c. American. The return of particulars of taxable property required to be furnished by the owners. (Cf. LIST v.4 1 b.) Obs.
1646. Virginia Stat. (1823), I. 329. To the prejudice of many who have duely and according to law presented their lists.
1655. Connect. Col. Rec. (1850), I. 279. Sea-Brooke is fyned forty shillings for not sending ye Lists of theire estates to the Courte.
d. Comb.: † list-maker = LISTER2 2; list price, the price fixed for an article in the printed list issued by the maker, or by the general body of makers of the particular class of goods.
1666. Connect. Col. Rec. (1852), II. 48. This Court doth order that ye land … be valued by the list makers of Stonington.
