Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 4–5 tapycer, tapecer, -e, tapicer, tapesere, taphiser, 5 tapiser, tapser, 5–6 tapisser, Sc. tapescher. [a. AF. tapicer = OF. tapicier (13th c.), mod.F. tapissier, f. OF. tapiz, F. tapis, figured cloth: see TAPIS sb. and -ER2.] A maker or weaver of figured cloth or tapestry.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 362. A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer [v.rr. taphiser, tapecer(e].
1388. Wyclif, Exod. xxxviii. 23. A tapesere and a broderere of iacynt, purpur, vermyloun and bijs.
1439. in Ancestor, July (1904), 17. A coverlit and a testre of tapicers werk.
1541. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl., VIII. 42. Given to the tapescher for his warkmanschip.
1591. Sparry, trans. Cattan’s Geomancie, 225. He shall be a tapisser or spinner of cloth of golde.
1883. M. E. Haweis, in Contemp. Rev., Sept., 426. Chaucer describes the fat dyer and tapiser in his prologue.
1892. Besant, London, 194. When certain tapicers were charged with selling false blankets.
Hence † Tapisser-work Obs., tapestry-work.
1459. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 227. Hengyng for ye halle and parlor of tapisserwerk.
