Obs. Also 6 bowpres, 7 bewpers. [Deriv. unknown: it has been referred to Beaupreau, a town of France with manufactures of linen and woolen.] A fabric, apparently linen; used for flags.
1592. Wills & Inv. N. C., II. (1860), 211. Lawne cufes 3s., peace of bowpres 16s.
1660. Act 12 Chas. II., iv. Sched., Beaupers the piece jl. vs.
1664. Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 56. Among the Linnen Wholesale Drapers … to see what can be done with them for the supplying our want of Bewpers for flaggs. Ibid., 16 June. Supplying us with bewpers from Norwich.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (1754), II. V. xviii. 382/2. Bolters and Bewpers the dozen pieces 1d.
