Forms: α. 4–6 tymbre, 5, 9 timbre, 6–7 tymber, 6– timber. β. Sc. 5 tymmyr, tymire, 5–6 tymir, 6 tymyr. [In OF. timbre (1350 in Godef.), med.L. timbrium, timbria (1207 Rouen, in Du Cange, also 1314 Upsala); MLG. timber (13th c.), timmer, LG. timmer; MHG. zimber (13th c.), Ger. zimmer; Norse timbr (app. 13th c. in Vigf.), Sw. timmer, Da. simmer (from Ger.). Supposed to be ultimately a special use of TIMBER sb.1, which prob. arose in the fur trade in Low German, whence it spread into other langs. The immediate source of ME. timbre appears to have been French. For the reason of the name cf. quot. 1597, and see TAVELIN. But some suppose a sense ‘heap, pile’: see Schade, and Falk & Torp; others suspect that it was an eastern word.]
A definite quantity of furs, a package containing 40 skins (i.e., half-skins, 20 pair) of ermine, sable, marten, and the like. (After a numeral usually timber, less commonly timbers.)
a. 1150. Assisa Regis David. R. Scott., in Acta Parl. Scot., I. 667. De custuma tymbriarum. De tymbria uulpium cirogrillorum Martinorum Murelegotum Sabinorum Beueriorum uel similium. De vnaquaque timbria ad exitum. iiij. d. [15th c. transl., Of a tymmyr of skynnis of toddis quhytredijs metrikis cattis beueris sable ferrettis or swylk vthyr; of ilk tymmyr at the outpassing iiij d.].
c. 1290. Fleta, II. xii. § 8. Lunda autem pellium continet triginta duo timbria.
1390–1. Earl Derby’s Exp. (Camden), 92. Pro j furrura de grys … de vj tymbre, et de ij tymbre de meniuer, xij nobles. Ibid., 93. Pro ij furruris de grys,… quolibet de xij tymbre.
1473–4. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 31. iiij tymire of grece to purfell that goyne,… the tymire contenand iij dosane iij bestis.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 133. xxxij tymbres off ermyns.
1503. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 201. For xij tymir of gray grece to lyne the samyn, ilk tymir contenand xl bestis.
1566. A. Edwards, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1886), III. 392. I have further received two timbers of Sables.
1577. Harrison, England, I. v. (1877), II. 122. The prince hath fiue yardes of cloth for his gowne and whood … beside fiue timber of the finest mineuer. [margin] A timber conteineth fortie skins.
1597. Skene, De Verb. Sign., Timbria Pellium … ane Timmer of Skinnes: That is, swa monie as is inclused within twa broddes of Timmer, quhilk commounlie conteinis fourtie skinnes: In the quhilk manner, merchandes vsis to bring hame Martrick, Sable, and vther coastlie skinnes and Furringes.
1707. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., III. ii. 256. Of Furrs, Fitches, Grays, Jennets, Martins, Mincks, Sables, 40 Skins is a Timber; other Skins five Score to the Hundred.
1714. Fr. Bk. Rates, 41. Ermine per Timber of 20 Couple.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, s.v., In some skins, however, the timbre counts to 120.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 27 Nov., 8/2. Ten years ago … ermine … cost 28s. to 30s. per limber of forty skins. The price for a timber to-day … is 176s.
