Forms: 1 stiʓweard, stíweard; 1–5 stiward, 3 stiwærd, 4–5 stiwarde, 4–6 styward(e, 5 styeward; 4–5 steiward; 3–7 stuard(e, 5 stwarde, 5–6 stuerd(e, 4–6 stuward(e; 4–5 steuard, 5 stewer(e)de, 4–6 steward(e, 4– steward. β. Sc. and north. 5 stewarte, 5 stwart; 7–8 stuart; 5–8 steuart, 4– stewart [OE. stíweard, stiʓweard, f. stiʓ of uncertain meaning + weard keeper, WARD sb.
The word is not found in any MS. earlier than the 11th c., and the form stiʓweard, though certainly the original, is recorded only in a late transcript. The first element is most probably OE. stiʓ a house or some part of a house (cf. stiʓwita house-dweller); this is doubtless cogn. with stiʓu STY sb. and stíʓan to climb (STY v.), but there is no ground for the assumption that stiʓweard originally meant ‘keeper of the pig-sties.’
The Eng. title is quoted by Froissart in the OF. form estuard. The rare ON. stívarðr is adopted from OE.
Since the 16th c. the definitions of the word have often been influenced by the supposed etymologies stead + ward and stow + ward.]
1. An official who controls the domestic affairs of a household, supervising the service of his master’s table, directing the domestics, and regulating household expenditure; a major-domo. Obs. exc. Hist.
c. 1000. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 223/7. Discoforus, discifer, uel stiweard.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., ibid., 129/13. Economus, stiward.
c. 1290. St. Eustace, 144, in S. E. Leg., 397. Þis kniȝtes þoȝte wonþer gret þat a such heiward Of so quinte seruise was as he were eny stuard.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XVI. 40. Reson stod and stihlede as for stywarde of halle.
14[?]. Bk. Curtasye, 535, in Babees Bk. At countyng stuarde schalle ben.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 383. Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun Gude thing eneuch quhat was in to the toun.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 37. The first of them,… Of all the house had charge and gouernement, As Guardian and Steward of the rest.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 169. If not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of seruants.
1623. Webster, Duchess Malfi, Dram. Pers., Antonio Bologna, steward of the household to the Duchess.
1651. J. White, Rich Cabinet (1677), 171. A Steward comeing to buy fruit for his Lady, bought all the apples they had at 7 a peny.
transf. and fig. 1697. De Foe, Ess. Projects, 302. I cannot think that God Almighty ever made them so delicate, so glorious Creatures … and all to be only Stewards of our Houses, Cooks, and Slaves.
b. A member of a college who supervises the catering or presides at table.
1749. Pointer, Oxon. Acad., 23. ’Tis a custom for one of these scholars to take it by turns to be steward every week, whose office it is to cater for the rest of the society.
1893. Fowler, Hist. C. C. C. (O.H.S.), 51. The Steward of the Hall was one of the graduate Fellows appointed, from week to week, to assist the Bursars in the commisariat and internal expenditure of the College.
1899. B. W. Henderson, Merton Coll., 249. To each Undergraduate table one member is appointed as steward. Forty years ago the Postmasters elected their own steward.
c. A servant of a college who is charged with the duty of catering. Also, the head servant of a club or similar institution, who has control of the other servants.
1518. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 473. iiij li shalbe delyeurd yerly to the stuward of the said Collegge.
1717. E. Miller, Acc. Univ. Camb., 106. The 7th Statute concerning the Steward … appoints him to go with the Cook to the Shambles, to see the Victuals bought; and to demand from the Fellows, &c. all Monies due for Commons, and sizeings at the end of every Moneth, &c.
1861. [Trevelyan], Horace at Univ. Athens (1867), 19. The steward and the cook have done me brown.
1914. Kelly’s Oxf. Directory, 125. Worcester [College]. Steward & Head Cook.
d. An officer in a ship who, under the direction of the captain or the purser, keeps the stores and arranges for the serving of meals; now applied to any attendant who waits upon the passengers, often with defining word indicating rank or special function, as bath-, cabin-, deck-, table-steward; captain’s steward, chief steward, paymaster’s steward, etc.
In comic literature there are many allusions to the steward’s function of attending to sea-sick passengers.
c. 1450. Pilgrims Sea-Voy., 38. ‘Hale in the wartake!’ ‘hit shal be done.’ ‘Steward! couer the boorde anone.’
1496. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 166. John Swynborne styward—viijs. John Gylpyn coke—xs.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. iv. 76. Their daily prouision … is prepared by a steward & a cooke.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 5. The Steward is to deliuer out the victuall, according to the Captaines directions.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. xviii. 76. Poor Panurge … sat on the Deck all in a heap,… and … bawl’d out frightfully, Steward, Maistre d’Hostel,… pr’ythee let’s have a piece of Powder’d Beef or Pork.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, ix. But a cup of tea, and ship’s biscuit and butter I can desire the steward to get ready for you.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., IV. xii. Talk of trades,… who wouldn’t know your brother to be a Steward! There’s … an air of reliability about him in case you wanted a basin, which points out the steward!
1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Lang., 139. Steward,—A saloon waiter. One who has charge of the stores. Those under him are called under-stewards.
1897. Punch, 23 Jan., 37/1. Mr. Dibbles (en route for Paris. Sea choppy). Channel Tunnel not a bad idea…. Steward! [Goes below.]
2. As the title of an officer of a royal household.
a. gen. Originally, an officer with similar functions to the ‘steward’ of an ordinary household (see sense 1). After the Norman Conquest, the title was the Eng. equivalent of the OF. seneschal, med.L. senescallus, dapifer, which, in England as on the Continent, had come to designate an office in the royal household held only by a great noble of the realm. Obs. exc. Hist.
a. 955[?]. K. Eadred’s Will, in Birch, Cartul. Sax., III. 75. And ælcan ʓesettan discðeʓne and ʓesettan hræʓlðene and ʓesettan biriele hundeahtatiʓ mancusa goldis…. And ælcan ʓesettan stiʓweard þritiʓ mancusa goldes.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1120. Swyðe maneʓa of þæs cynges hired, stiwardas, & burþenas, & byrlas.
c. 1205. Lay., 7422. He hæfde ene stiwarde Þene wisseste mon of al þis ærde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13602. Neuere styward ne botyler þat serued kyng ne kayser, So wel halp at here power.
a. 1350. S. Thomas, 194, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 22. Þe kinges steward and als þe quene To Cristes law conuertid he clene.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3378. A stif man & a stern þat was þe Kinges stiward & cheueteyn was chose þat eschel to lede.
c. 1450. Merlin, vi. 102. I will praye yow, that yef ye be kynge, that ye make my sone Kay youre stywarde.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings xviii. 18. Eliachim the sonne of Helchias the stewarde [Vulg. præpositus domus].
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 310. Charles Maximilian Von Thurn, steward of the houshold to the empress-dowager Eleanora.
b. (Lord) Steward of the King’s Household. A peer whose nominal duty it is to control the King’s household above stairs, and to preside at the Board of Green Cloth (see GREEN CLOTH). In early times he exercised important judicial functions.
[c. 1400. Froissart, Chron. Œuvres, 1872, XVI. 23. Messire Thomas de Persy avoit esté ung grant temps souverain estuard de l’ostel du roy, c’est-à-dire en franchois maistre et séneschal.]
1428. in Nicolas, Proc. Privy Counc. (1834), III. 286. John Lord Typtot an off Powys sthuard off þe Kynges howse.
1532. Act 24 Hen. VIII., c. 13 § 1. The same Licence to be declared in writing by the Kinges Highnese, or the Lorde Stewarde of his most honorable Houshold.
1554. Act 1 Mary, c. 4. It hathe now pleased the Quenes Majestie to … chaunge the name of the Greate Maister of her Highnes most honourable Houshold … into the name of the sayd Lorde Stuarde of her most honourable Householde.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. i. 18. The Duke of Suffolke is the first, and claimes To be high Steward.
1710. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. (ed. 23), 108. For the Civil Governement of the King’s Court, the chief officer is Lord Steward.
3. a. (Lord High) Steward or † Great Steward of England. Recorded since the 15th cent. as: The title of a high officer of state, the earlier senescallus Angliae. Since the accession of Henry IV. this officer has been appointed only on the occasion of a coronation, at which he presides, or for the trial of a peer, which takes place in the Court of the Lord High Steward if Parliament be not sitting.
Originally this office seems to have carried little more than the privilege of waiting on the king’s table, especially on state occasions. But it soon became hereditary in the earls of Leicester, and powers similar to those of the French seneschal were claimed for it by Simon de Montfort. This development was checked by the attainder of Simon, and the office finally fell in to the crown by the accession of its holder Henry IV.
1454. Rolls of Parlt., V. 249/2. Thomas erle of Devonshire, uppon an enditement of high treasons … afore Humfrey Duc of Bukingham, steward of Englond for that tyme assigned.
1522–3. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 20 § 1. Before Thomas Duke of Norffolk for that tyme oonely beyng greate Stuarde of Englande by the Kynges lettres patentis.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 15 Jan. 1641. The E. of Arundell and Surrey … was made High Steward.
1710. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. (ed. 23), 83. The Lord High Steward of England or Vice-Roy.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xix. 257. They usually (in case of an impeachment of a peer for treason) address the crown to appoint a lord high steward.
1842. J. G. Nichols, in Gentl. Mag., May, 485/2. To the high office of Steward of England the Duke of Lancaster became entitled in right of his wife, on the death of his father in law Henry Duke of Lancaster in 1361.
1907. Harcourt, His Grace the Steward, 379. We may regard the Southampton trial as the true source of the court of the lord high steward.
b. (Lord High) Steward of Scotland. Hist. The first officer of the Scottish King in early times; he had control of the royal household, great administrative powers, and the privilege of leading the army into battle. The office, described as senescallatus Scotiae in a charter of Malcolm IV., 1158, fell in to the crown upon the accession of Robert the Steward as Robert II., whence the name of the royal house of Stuart; but the title was given to the heir-apparent until the Union. Great Steward of Scotland is now a title of the Prince of Wales.
1507. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 210. His derest son James, prince and stewart of Scotland.
1710. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. II. (ed. 23), 411. The Lord High Steward of Scotland … was … in the old Charters, placed before the Constable and Mareschal.
a. 1768. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., I. iv. § 10. (1773), 57. We may here … add a few words concerning the office of Steward of Scotland.
1845. New Statist. Acc. Scot., X. 497. Subsequently to his [sc. Malcolm’s] time, we find the antiquated title of Abthane giving way to that of Steward of Scotland.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., 139. The blood of the Steward of Scotland runs in the veins of the Kings of England.
† 4. A deputy-governor, vice-gerent. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 11789. Sende ich wulle to Aðionærd Þe is min aȝene stiward…. For him ich habbe wel bi-tæht Brutlond to witene.
c. 1300. Havelok, 666. Þe wicke traitour godard, Þat was denema[r]k a stiward.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 435. Zephiron, Alisaundre his styward [L. præfectus Alexandri]. Ibid., IV. 425. He … ordeynede stywardes [L. præsides] to governe þese londes.
c. 1450. Merlin, ii. 24. The barons chosen Vortiger to be stwarde.
fig. 1436[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 12. Souden of all Surry, Emperour of Babilon, Steward of Helle. Ibid. And whi þat I am Stiward of Helle: I lete you wite I haue alle gouernaunce of wicked mawmentries & wicked spirites.
1645. Ball, Sphere Gov., 7. A King of England is but in nature of an high Steward of the Kingdome by inheritance.
5. One who manages the affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer.
a. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 579. Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond Of any lord that is in Engelond.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), i. The stuard sayd, Sir, ȝe awe wele more Thenne ȝe may of ȝour londus rere, In faythe this seuyn ȝere.
1488. Maldon (Essex) Liber B., fol. 39. Robert Plomer,… chefe Styward of landis on-to lord Henry, Erle of Essex.
1577. Googe, trans. Heresbach’s Husb., I. 11. Ouer my Gate I haue laide my Steward, from whence he may looke into the Court … and ouersee his neighbour the Bayly.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. vi. 456. The principal manager or steward of all his affairs.
1821. D’Oyly, Life Sancroft, I. 468. On the following day, the servants of his establishment were dismissed by the steward.
1846. McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Emp. (1854), I. 451. We believe that the stewards of England, though inferior, perhaps, to the factors of Scotland, are a … useful body of men.
1892. Lady Verney, Verney Mem., I. 14. The estate had been so long without a head, under the management of the steward.
1910. C. Shorter, Highw. & Byways Buckingh., xvi. 177. The present Manor House, opposite the church, has long been given over to the Duke of Bedford’s steward.
b. Steward of the manor: one who transacts the financial and legal business of a manor on behalf of the lord; he holds the manor-court in the lord’s absence, and keeps a copy of its rolls, whence the name steward of copyhold. Steward of the leet, steward of the hundred, steward of the haven-court, an official with similar functions in the leet, hundred, and haven courts.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5421. Stywardes … þat lordynges courtys holde.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 96. Some … in stede of stuwardes sytten and demen.
1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 306/2. Stuardus of Letus and Hundredis.
1531. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 186. William Marchall gentleman than being Steward of the seid Manour.
c. 1537. in W. Rye, Cromer (1889), 52. Henry Erle of Surrey High Stuard of the Kyngs Haven Courts in Cromer.
1577. Leigh, Surv., G j b. Yerely Fees to any Receiuour … high Stewarde, or vnder Stewarde … to bee goyng out of a Mannour,… are called Reprises.
c. 1600. Mannor & Crt. Baron (1909), 200. The Stewarde ys an offycer named by the Lorde, and his offyce ys to directe the sewtors by order of lawe to recorde and regester the plees and Judgements of the Courte…. And he is not Judge there but Recorder or clerke as shalbe sayde for he cannot quash an Essoin nor doe any other thinge withoute the assente of the Sewtors.
1791. Ritson, Jurisd. Crt.-Leet, Introd. p. viii. The Leet is a court of record…. It is held before the Steward … of the Lord.
1864. Miss S. P. Fox, Kingsbridge Estuary, 3. The Manor of Kingsbridge belongs to John Scobell, Esq. … whose Steward holds a Court Leet and Court Baron here.
1897. E. Howlett, in W. Andrews’ Legal Lore, 93. The steward also usually presides at the copyhold courts of the manor.
c. The title of: The administrator, often with merely nominal duties, of certain estates of the Crown, as Steward of Blackburn Hundred, † the Duchy of Lancaster. For Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, see CHILTERN 1.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 106/1. The Styward of the Duche of Lancastre.
c. 1472. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 26. To our right trustie & welbeloved Sir William Plompton, knight, Stuard of the lordshipp of Spofford.
1499. N. Riding Rec., N. S. (1894), I. 130. To … Sir Ricd Chomley, Stuard of oure lordship of Pykeryng.
1600. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 383. Out of Blacborne hundreth, whereof yr maiestie haith made him the stuarde.
d. In Scotland: A magistrate originally appointed by the king to administer the crown lands forming a STEWARTRY, q.v.; see quot. 1754. Principal stewart, such an official as distinguished from the stewart-depute, to whom part of the duties were usually delegated. Obs. exc. Hist.
1432. Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1814), II. 21. Þe lorde of þe Regalite or his stewart or balȝe.
1473–4. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 10. Item of the Stewarte of Kirkcudbrith lx li.
c. 1575. Balfour, Practicks (1754), 16. Stewartis and Stewartreis. Stratherne, Lord Drummond.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xxvii. § x. (1699), 143. The Sheriffs, Lords of Regalities, and Stewarts, are declared Judges competent to this Crime.
a. 1688. J. Wallace, Descr. Orkney (1693), 88. The Government of the Stewart is in the Kings Bounds, the Manner and Procedure of his Jurisdiction is after the form of Sheriffship, the Title only differing.
1708. Procl., 18 Aug., in Lond. Gaz., No. 4464/4. We … ordain … Our Solicitor to Dispatch Copies thereof to the Sheriffs of the several Shires, Stewarts of Stewartries.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 38. The stewart was the magistrate appointed by the King over such regality lands as happened to fall to the Crown by forfeiture, &c.; and therefore the stewart’s jurisdiction was equal to that of a regality. Ibid. (a. 1768), Inst. Law Scot., I. iv. § 10 (1773), 56. Regality-deputes were sometimes called stewards; but steward, in the strict sense, signified a magistrate appointed by the King over special lands belonging to himself.
1901. R. De B. Trotter, Galloway Gossip, 236. Davie … summons’t the laird for the price o’ the hooses, but he made naething o’t, for the Steward said he had nae writins on’t.
1912. A. Porteous, Hist. Crieff, ii. 32. The office of dapifer, seneschal, or steward, of Strathearn, like the Earldom itself, goes back to prehistoric times.
e. Steward of the High Peak: see quot. 1851.
1653. Manlove, Cust. Lead-mines, 199 (E.D.S.). The Dutchie Court … may appoint a Steward, that may try The Cause again upon the minery.
1851. Act 14 & 15 Vict., c. 94 § 3. To be called the Steward of the High Peak Barmote Courts, and such Steward shall hold his Office during the Will and Pleasure of Her Majesty.
6. fig. (from senses 1 and 5.) An administrator and dispenser of wealth, favors, etc.; esp. one regarded as the servant of God or of the people.
Partly after Biblical uses, in which the word represents Gr. οἰκονόμος, L. dispensator.
c. 900[?]. Solil. Augustine, in Cockayne, Shrine (1864), 176. Me þincð betere þæt ic forlete þa ʓyfe and folʓyʓe þam ʓyfan ðe me eʓðer ys stiward ʓe ðas welan ʓe eac hys freonscypes.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 386. Luue is heouene stiward.
c. 1430. How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, 21, in Babees Bk. Ȝeue of þin owne good, and be not to hard, For seelden is þat hous poore þere god is steward.
1539. Bible (Great), 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man thys wyse esteme vs, euen as ye minysters of Christ, and stewardes of the secretes of God.
1575–85. Abp. Sandys, Serm., x. 167. God hath made him rich, that he as a faithful steward might bestowe those riche blessings vpon the familie … of God.
1594. A. Hume, Poems (S.T.S.), 147. The Lord is a wise and discreet stewurt, and dispensator of his benefits.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. iii. 137. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow, be what thou wilt, I am Fortunes Steward.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., I. 32. Luxury being the steward, and the treasure vnexhaustable.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. vii. 257. He [the king] is the steward of the public, to dispense it [justice] to whom it is due.
1769. Harte, Eulogius, 203. Just steward of the bounty he receiv’d, And dying poorer than the poor reliev’d!
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 19. A man of business and a vigilant steward of the public money.
7. An officer in a gild, usually ranking next to the alderman; also Hist. often as a rendering of L. senescallus, ONF. eskevein: see SKEVIN.
10[?]. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 278. & ʓyf he on neawyste forðfaren sy warniʓe man þone stiwerd to hwylcere stowe þæt lic sceole & se stiwerd warniʓe syððan ða ʓeʓyldan.
1432. in F. A. Hibbert, Orig. Eng. Gilds (1891), 46. The Stywardes and Maistres of the saide Crafte.
1494. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 188. The Stuarde off the Gilde for the tyme beyng shall truly countrolle them yt ben absente.
1870. Toulmin Smith, English Gilds, Introd. p. ciii. There was an alderman at the head of the Gild, and often stewards by his side as assistants.
b. In certain City companies: One of two or more officers, who are charged with the arrangements for the annual dinner. Cf. sense 10.
1614. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 90. That … Master Wardens, Assistants, and Livery should pay to the Stewards for the providing of dynner on the day of the Master’s Feast the some of Two Shillings each.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 21 Sept. 1671. I din’d … at the fraternity feast in Yron-mongers Hall, where the 4 stewards chose their successors.
1796. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 165. That as two stewards, properly enabled to serve the office, cannot be immediately fixed upon, the annual dinner, on Lord Mayor’s day, be omitted.
c. In various societies, the title of certain officers forming an executive committee. Cf. sense 10.
1831. in J. C. Whyte’s Hist. Brit. Turf (1840), I. 145. At a meeting of the Stewards and Members of the Jockey Club, it was stated that [etc.].
1910. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 11), XIII. 732/2. Sport is carried on under the auspices of the Jockey Club…. Three stewards, one of whom retires each year,… govern the … work of the club…. The stewards of the Jockey Club are ex officio stewards of Ascot, Epsom, Goodwood and Doncaster. All other meetings are controlled by stewards, usually well-known patrons of the Turf invited to act by the projectors of the fixture.
8. A corporation official, whose rank and duties vary widely in different municipalities; often with a defining word, as Capital steward, city steward, town steward.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 477/1. The Styward of the seid Town.
1835. App. Munic. Corpor. Rep., I. 188. The Steward [of Cardiff] … is required to be learned in the law. Ibid., 613. The Capital Steward [of South Molton] … has neither duties nor emoluments. Ibid., II. 1275. The Town Steward [of Dorchester] is the treasurer of the corporation. Ibid., III. 1741. Previous to the year 1714, the city steward [of York] was appointed by the upper house.
9. High steward (see also 3).
a. In the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the title (in academic Latin seneschallus) of a judicial officer, in whom is vested the jurisdiction belonging to the university in causes of treason and felony.
1459. in Munim. Acad. (Rolls), I. 345. If the same prisoner be claymed by the said Chaunceller or his styward … within iv. wykes next after his takyng and imprisonyng in the common prison of the town.
1674. Wood, Fasti Oxon. (1790), 180. The Office of Steward in this University concerning the capital and chief causes of Scholars and privileged persons, King Henry IV … did institute.
1724. Ayliffe, Ant. & Pres. St. Univ. Oxf., II. 166. The Lord High Steward … is to hold and keep the University Court-Leet … either by himself, or his Under-Steward,… and on account of this Office, the High Steward receives the yearly Fee of five Pounds from the University.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 684. The trial of treason, felony, and mayhem, by a particular charter, is committed to the university jurisdiction in … the court of the lord high steward of the university.
1824. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), XVI. 184. art. Cambridge [Officers of the University] 2 A High Steward, who has special power to take the trial of scholars impeached of felony, and to hold and keep a court-leet within the university.
1845. G. R. M. Ward, trans. Oxf. Univ. Statutes, I. 178. The office of High Steward or Deputy High Steward of the University.
1895. Rashdall, Universities, II. II. 409. Henry IV [in 1406] gave the University [of Oxford] the right to claim the surrender of ‘privileged persons’ indicted for felony, who were thereupon to be tried by a newly-constituted officer of the University, the Seneschal or Steward, to be appointed by the Chancellor. Ibid., 790. The jurisdiction of the Court of the High Steward of the University [of Oxford] … remains intact, but the privilege has never been claimed for a century or more.
† b. An official having at the inthronization of an archbishop ceremonial functions similar to those of the Lord High Steward at a coronation. Obs.
15[?]. in Dugdale, Monast. (1817), I. 118/1. He shoulde be the hye stewarde of the sayde archbyshop, and of his successors, at their great feast, when it shoulde fortune the sayde archbyshoppe to be intronizated.
c. In certain English cities, a municipal title of dignity, usually borne hy a nobleman or royal prince.
1563. in W. H. Turner, Select Rec. Oxford (1880), 306. Sir Francis Knollis, Knyght, was chosen stuarde of this Cytie of Oxford this the third day of February, 1563.
1582. Nottingham Rec., IV. 199. The Earle of Rutland beinge Highe Steward.
1835. App. Munic. Corpor. Rep., I. 59. The present lord high steward [of Gloucester] is His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.
1914. Kelly’s Oxf. Directory, 142. High Steward [of the city of Oxford], the Right Hon. the Earl of Jersey.
10. A person appointed to supervise the arrangements or maintain order at a race meeting, exhibition, dinner, ball, concert, public gathering, etc.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3949/4. The Horses to be shewn at the George in Amsbury…, and to be entred by the Steward.
1709. Bp. Atterbury, Serm. Sons of Clergy, Ded. To the Worshipful Mr. John Tenison [and others] Stewards for the Late Feast of the Sons of the Clergy.
1751. Laws of Mus. Soc. at Castle-Tavern, Pater-noster-row, 13. The Stewards shall observe the Directions herein after mentioned … for preserving good Order at the Concerts.
1812. Examiner, 24 Aug., 542/1. He himself was one of the Stewards of that dinner!
1841. Orderson, Creoleana, vi. 62. It was customary for the stewards … to arrange the order of the minuets.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 330/2. Fill up the delivery order, stating how the birds are to be returned. The stewards will pack them after the show.
1910. [see 7 c].
1915. Morn. Post, 7 Dec., 4/3. The meeting was perfectly quiet … until one or two of the stewards … attempted to remove four or five Colonial soldiers.
11. An overseer of workmen. In mod. use, the ‘underlooker’ of a colliery, ‘who receives his orders from the manager, and to whom the overmen and deputies report upon the state of the mine’ (Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 1883); also, in Scotland, the foreman of a workshop.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5525. On þam þe king sett sere stuward [magistros operum] To hald þam in-to werkes hard.
1708. J. C., Compleat Collier (1845), 38. Six Pence per Corfe,… which is Deducted … by the Steward or Pay-Master.
1916. Observer, 9 Jan., 12/2. The fact that Logan had strong trades union views is nothing exceptional for a shop’s steward.
12. Among Methodists, a layman appointed to manage the financial affairs of a congregation (society or chapel steward) or of a circuit (circuit steward). Also book steward, the manager of the Book-room or publication department of the Wesleyan Methodist Society; poor steward, a person appointed in a congregation to administer the funds collected for the poor.
1741. Wesley, Jrnl., 23 May (1749), 85. The Stewards of the Society (who receive and expend what is contributed weekly). Ibid. (1771), Jrnl., 31 March (1777), 22. In the Methodist discipline, the wheels regularly stand thus: the assistant, the preachers, the stewards, the leaders, the people.
1896. Daily News, 10 March, 5/3. The Rev. C. H. Kelly, the book steward, who is still prosecuting his searches in the Archives of the Wesleyan Book Room.
1904. Daily Chron., 15 Feb., 3/5. Mr. Slack is an active member of the Wesleyan Methodist body…. He is circuit-steward of the West London Mission.
13. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 1 d) steward boy; (sense 5 d) steward-clerk; also † stewart-compt, Sc. the statement of the accounts of a stewartry; stewart-, steward-court, Sc. the court having jurisdiction within a stewartry; also attrib.; steward depute, see 5 d; steward’s mate, the assistant of a ship’s steward; steward’s room, steward-room, see quots.; steward’s table (see quot.).
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 613. Assisting Idabea and the *steward boys in chivying this pig.
1912. A. Porteous, Hist. Crieff, ii. 48. Other officials connected with the Steward Court were: the Judge or Judex, the Steward Depute, the *Steward Clerk, the Doomster or Deemster.
1580. Exch. Rolls Scot., XXI. 549. I am restand awand in my *stewart compt of Menteyth the sowme of 32 pundis.
1475. in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 418/1. Vylȝam reyd, dempstar of the *stewart curt of Stratherne.
a. 1600. in W. Nicolson, Leges Marchiarum (1705), 202. First that he … charge him within the Stewart-Court Book.
1752. J. Louthian, Form of Process (ed. 2), 287. The several Officers in the Sheriff or Stewart-courts are prohibited to take … any other or higher Fees.
a. 1600. in W. Nicolson, Leges Marchiarum (1705), 202. Ane wise and famous Gentleman,… to be *Stewart Deput.
1824. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, III. III. v. 247. In 1747 this stewartry was placed under a stewart-depute.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4440/1. The … *Stewards Mate, Cooks Mate,… and Marine Soldiers, two Eighth Parts.
1627. Capt. Smith, Sea Gram., ii. 13. The *Stewards roome.
1644. Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 102. Stewards-Roome, is that part of the Howlde, wherein the Victuals are Stowed.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 153. Steward’s room. An apartment built on the larboard side of the after platform, whence the purser’s steward issues the provisions to the ship’s company, and where he makes up his accounts, &c.
1758. (title) Treatise on the Use and Abuse of the Second, commonly called the *Steward’s Table, in Families of the First Rank.
