a. Obs. Also 6–7 sowterly. [f. SOUTER + -LY1.]
1. Resembling a souter; of a common or vulgar type.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1296/2. The special bassawes of that proude souterly Sowdan.
1568. Fulwell, Like will to Like, B iij. You souterly knaues shew you all your maners at once.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. v. (1632), 483. The burden bearing porter, souterly cobbler, and toilefull labourer.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, II. vii. 252. What should one stand tugging with such a sowterly fellow…?
2. Appropriate to, characteristic of, a souter.
1589. ? Lyly, Pappe w. Hatchet, E ij. Hee runnes ouer his fooleries with a knaues gallop, ripping vp the souterlie seames of his Epistle.
1593. Nashe, Strange News, Wks. (Grosart), II. 187. The Doctors proceedings haue thrust vpon mee this sowterly Metaphor.
1609. Paule, Life of Archbp. Whitgift, 40. A cobler, a choise broker for such souterly wares.
1626. R. Bernard, Isle of Man (1627), 277. They blasphemously publish, that the Scriptures are … a dead Letter, sowterly Inke, dumbe Iudges.
