Obs. exc. Hist. Also 6 tarrer, 9 erron. terrarer. [ad. med.L. terrārius in same sense, f. terrārius adj., pertaining to land or lands (f. terra earth, land), whence also terrāria, -ārium, a piece of land, landed property, pl. terrāria possessions, lands, terrārius a tenant or holder of land, terrārius līber, also terrārium, terrerium a register of lands, rents, etc. (TERRIER1).] An officer of a religious house, who was originally bursar for the farms and manors belonging to the house, receiving rents and making disbursements on account of these; but whose office by the 16th c. at Durham was mainly connected with the entertainment of strangers.
1401. Rotuli Terrariorum, in Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 299. Compotus fratris Willelmi Barry Terrarii Dunelm.
1593. Rites of Durham (Surtees, 1903), 99. Dane Roger Watson the Terrer of ye house. The Tarrers checker was as yea goe into ye geste Haule…. His office was to se that all ye geste chambers to be cleanly keapt [etc.] … and he provyded provender for there horses [etc.].
1864. Raine, Priory of Hexham, I. p. cxxxiv. The Terrarer, the cellarer, the chamberlain and the bursar acted by his advice.
1901. J. T. Fowler, in Durh. Acc. Rolls, Introd. 31. The Terrar had three copies of each roll written out. Ibid. Expenses of the Terrar riding to Auckland … and other places.
