Forms: 6 leuterar, leutterer, loitreer, loyterour, -(er)rer, 6–7 loyterar, -er, 8– loiterer. [a. Du. leuterer: see LOITER v. and -ER1.] One who loiters (see senses of the vb.); † a vagabond, ‘sturdy beggar.’
1530. Palsgr., 240/2. Loyterar, trvandeu.
1547. Act 1 Edw. VI., c. 3 § 1. The same Justices shall cawse such Slave, or loyterer to bee marked on the forhed.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 22. These lousey leuterars. Ibid., 27. An ydell leuterar. Ibid., 87. Lasy lewd Leutterers.
1588. in Norfolk Antiq. Misc. (1883), II. 329. Paid to Burwell and his loyterrers for vj dayes’ woorke, vs. viijd.
1612. S. Rid, Art Juggling, B 1 b. Many of our English Loyterers ioined with them, and in time learned their craft and cosening.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 84. David Macmollan, loyterar, being convenit for saying, that [etc.].
1684. G. S., Anglorum Spec., 196. Th. Tusser was a Speculative Husbandman, but a Practical Loyterer in Agriculture.
1723. Swift, Country Life, 33. The loiterers quake, no corner hides them.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 14, ¶ 9. The loiterer … makes appointments which he never keeps.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxi. Come, loiterer, come!
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, ii. 14. There are still a few loiterers on the pavement.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxxix. Spring will not wait the loiterer’s time Who keeps so long away.
