Forms: 4–5 tawier(e, 4–7 tawyer, (5 toyar, 6 tawhear, 8 tawar), 5– tawer. [f. TAW v.1: see -ER1. With the earlier tawyer, cf. lawyer, sawyer.] One who taws; one who prepares white leather; = WHITE-TAWER.
[1311. Letter Bk. D. Lond., lf. 127. Walterus le Whitawyer. Ibid. (1346), F., lf. 126 b. Les bones gentz Megucers appellez Whit-tawyers.]
1382. Wyclif, Acts ix. 43. Many dayes he dwellide in Joppe, at Symound, sum coriour [gloss or tawier, v.rr. tawer, tawiere].
1480. [see TAWING 1].
1481–90. Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.), 505. Payd to the toyar for iiij. boke skynnys.
1559. Machyn, Diary (Camden), 208. A tawhear of skynnes.
1570. Levins, Manip., 74/44. A Tawer, alutarius.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 169. The skins of this Beast are dressed by Tawyers, with the fat of fishes and Alum.
1658. R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 280. There live the tanners, tawyers, fell-mongers, parchment, and vellum-dressers.
1795. Statist. Acc. Scotl., XIV. 552. There are 17 tanners, 18 curriers, and 13 tawers.
1883. Century Mag., XXVII. 75. In this part of Paris live all tanners and tawers and their kindred.
