Forms: 3–6 tresourer, -urer, 4–7 -orer, (4 -orere, -oriere, -erour, -urrer, 5 -oreere, -owrere, Sc. -orair, 6 -ourar, trezerer); 5–7 thres-, 6–7 threasorer, -urer, -ourer; 6 treasorer, 6–7 -ourer, 6– treasurer. [In 13–14th c. tresorer, -ourer, a. ONF. and AF. tresorer = OF. tresorier, f. tresor TREASURE, after late L. thēsaurārius (whence Pr. thesaurier, Sp. tesorero, Pg. thesoureiro, It. tesoriere, OSc. THESAURER): see TREASURE and -ER2.]
1. One who has officially the charge of treasure; originally, a person entrusted with the receipt, care, and disbursement of the revenues of a king, noble, or other dignitary, of a state, city, or church; now, one who is responsible for the funds of a public body, or of any corporation, association, society, or club.
Treasurer of a cathedral: see quot. 1701.
c. 1290. Edmund Conf., 394, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 442. At salesburi … prouendes of churches he hadde, and was tresurer [v.r. tresourer].
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xvi. 23. Erastus tresorer, or kepere, of the cite, greetith ȝou wel.
1419. in Surtees Misc. (1888), 14. Maister Thomas Haxey, Tresorer of the Cathedrale Kirk of Seint Peter of York.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Treasurer.… Most corporations through the kingdome, haue an officer of this name, that receiueth their rents, and disburseth their common expences.
1670. Covel, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 119. The two new Treasurers of the Turkey Company.
1701. Cowell’s Interpr., Treasurer in Cathedral Churches, a Dignitary who was to take charge of the Vestments, Plate, Jewels, Reliques, and other Treasure belonging to the said Church.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 357. The treasurer of each hospital must annually verify upon oath his accounts.
1913. Kelly’s Oxford Direct., 148/2. Ashmolean Natural History Society,… G. C. Druce…, treasurer.
b. Lord High Treasurer of England, of Great Britain, also called Treasurer, Lord Treasurer, High Treasurer, Treasurer of the Exchequer, formerly, the third great officer of the Crown, controlling the revenues of the sovereign.
The office was put into commission several times in the 17th c., and definitely in the reign of George I., its duties being now discharged by five Lords of the Treasury: see TREASURY 3
[1292. Britton, I. xix. § 10. Solom la discrecioun des Thresorers et des Barouns de nos Eschekers.]
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 280. To Berwik cam þe kynge eschekere,… Walter of Admundesham he was Tresorere.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 71. Item the xj. day of October was made … the lord trezerer markes of Wynchester.
1562. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 115. Io the Threasourer and Chamberlaines of our Exchequier greeting.
1589. Hay any Work, 27. Our L. high Chancellor, high Treasurer, and high Steward of Englande.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v., The Treasurer of England, who is a Lord by his office … vnder whose charge and gouernment is all the Princes wealth contained in the Exchequer.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 524–5. Lord Treasurers Remembrancer … maketh Proces against all Sheriffes … and Bayliffes, for their accounts.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 10 April. They talk of great promotions to be made: that Mr. Hardy is to be Lord-Treasurer.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., III. vii. 682. In earlier times, the Treasurer acted personally at the Exchequer.
c. Lord High Treasurer of Scotland (in Scotch, † Lord (High) Thesaurer), formerly, the officer having charge of the receipt and disbursement of the revenues of the kingdom, whose duty it was to examine and pass the accounts of the sheriffs and others concerned in levying the revenues, to receive resignations of lands, etc. In 1663 he was declared President of the Court of Exchequer.
1473–89, 1685–1708. [see THESAURER].
1877. Accounts Ld. High Treasurer of Scotland, I. Pref. 13–14. In 1424 [James I.] … assigned to two newly created officers, the Comptroller and the Treasurer. Ibid., 26. The earliest appointment of a Treasurer which remains on record is a letter under the Privy Seal 25th June 1526. Ibid., 34. None of these [accounts], unfortunately, are of earlier date than fifty years after the institution of the office; the earliest being of the year 1473–4.
d. United States. An officer of the Treasury Department, who receives and keeps the moneys, disbursing them only upon warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury and duly recorded and countersigned; also an officer having the same function in each State.
1790. Hamilton, Wks. (1886), VII. 52. The treasurer of the United States shall be the receiver of all payments for sales at the general land-office.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metr. Syst., III. (1871), 255. The weights were to be stamped … in figures denominating their weight, and to be kept by the public treasurer.
1879. Constit. California, Art. v. § 17 (in Bryce, Amer. Commw. [1889], I. 695). A Secretary of State, a Controller, a Treasurer, an Attorney-General, and a Surveyor-General shall be elected at the same time and places.
e. In other official designations.
a. 1505. in Kingsford, Chron. Lond. (1905), 230. The Maister of his Requestes, and his Tresorer generall.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron. (Camden), I. 18. Mr. Treasorer and Mr. Controwler of the Kinges howse.
1552. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. ii. 118. The Thresourer of ye Kinges maiesties Chambre.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II. (1876), 6. The thresorer of the warderobe.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v., Then is there a Treasurer of the kings houshold … Treasurer of the Nauie, or Treasurer of the warres … Treasurer of the Kings chamber … Treasurer of the Chauncerie … Treasurer of the Kings Wardrobe.
1613. Voy. to Guiana, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 210. A treasurer-general for the plantations shall be resident in London.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvii. II. 54. The extraordinary title of count of the sacred largesses, was bestowed on the treasurer-general of the revenue.
2. fig. One who or that which is entrusted with the keeping of anything precious or valuable.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24672 (Edin.). To faintis was ti faiþe ne fere For þi þu was his tresorer [Cott. tresurrer].
1340. Ayenb., 231. Þe drede of god is þe tresoriere þet þet tresor of madenhod lokeþ.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1622), 9. Knowing … that I shall finde your eares faithfull treasurers.
1671. Barrow, Serm. Ps. cxii. 9, Wks. 1687, I. 444. Rich men are indeed but the treasurers, the stewards, the caterers of God for the rest of men.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., viii. The secrets of which thou seemest to be a too faithful treasurer.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Aristocr., Wks. (Bohn), II. 84. These lords are the treasurers and librarians of mankind.
3. [f. TREASURE v. + -ER1.] One who treasures or hoards up; a hoarder, preserver, keeper of something precious.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 31. The wch noble vertu ought to be desirable to Lords, ladies, and the greatest Threasurers in the world.
1613. in Crt. & Times of Jas. I. (1848), I. 247. I am a bad treasurer-up of names.
1631. B. Jonson, Underwoods, Epit. M. Drayton. When thy ruins shall disclaim To be the treasurer of his name.
