Obs. Also 4 tablere, 5 tabelere. [In sense 1, a. OF. tablier (12–13th c. in Godef.) L. tabulārium, in one of its mediæval senses, f. tabula table: cf. TABLE sb. 4.]

1

  1.  A backgammon board; hence, the game of backgammon or ‘tables.’ Also, a chess-board.

2

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1041. To pley at þe ches or at þe tablere.

3

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 247. Wiþinne a monþe he miȝt se to pleie at þe tabler.

4

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 17272. Squar as ys a Tabler.

5

14[?].  Metr. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 626/13. Scaccarium checure, alea tabelere, decius dyce.

6

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, IV. i. (1883), 161. Wherfore yt ther ben in the tabler as many poynts wyde as ben full.

7

  2.  (? A table-cloth or a towel: med.L. tablerium.)

8

1392.  Earl Derby’s Exp. (Camden), 178. Graunsom bastard pro j tabler per ipsum empt’ ibidem pro domino, xij scot. Ibid. (1393), 281. Pro iiij lb. cotoni et j matte … pro j tablerio.

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