1. One who makes tents.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 107 b. He that weareth the crowne on his head, besecheth the teintmaker [St. Paul], and the fisher both dead to be his protectours.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Acts xviii. 3. They were tentmakers by their craft [Tindale, Their crafte was to make tentes; 1386 Wyclif, of roop-makeris crafte].
1884. J. Hall, Chr. Home, 87. Paul was a tent-maker, and he was not ashamed of it.
2. (See quot., and cf. TENT sb.1 2 c.)
1863. L. L. Clarke, in Intell. Observer, IV. 1. Microlepidoptera. (Coleophora, or Tent-makers.)
So Tent-making, the business of making tents.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., xii. 113. We pardon his … comparison between S. Pauls Tent-making … & the State imployment of our Bishops.
