Obs. Also 5 upholdester, 5, 7–8 upholdster, 6 north. uphaldster. [f. UPHOLD v. + -STER.] = UPHOLDER 1.
α. 1411. Close Roll 12 Hen. IV. (dorso), Johannes Dryuer, upholdester.
1479. Paston Lett., III. 271. iij girdels Staunton. j girdel upholdester.
c. 1481. Caxton, Dialogues, 2. Of tayllours and vpholdsters.
15[?]. York Memo. Bk. (Surtees), I. 64. Every uphaldster that sellis eny furrez within this citie.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xii. 74. Upholdsters, Limners, Glovers.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 9 Oct. I found … part of our chambers hung to day by the upholdster.
1722. E. Ward, Parish Gutt’lers, 37. Once on a time he turn’d Upholdster, And slily dealt in Bed and Bolster.
β. 1483–5. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 123. Richard Crick, vpholster, for o quarter.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495), 144. Whan the chaunger … knewe his gowne that heng at the Vpholsters dore and all redy was there to selle, he was sore wrothe.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B. 10. Harpe makers, leches, and upholsters.
1573. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 209. Upholster for pendentes of burnished golde for the Maskers garmentes.
1614. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 43. As for a resting chyre…, I did enquyre at an upholster the pryce of itt.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 22 Aug. My closett is doing by upholsters, which I am pleased with.
1677. Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, III. i. Your Bookseller is properly your Upholster; for he furnishes your Room, rather than your Head.
1725. Brice’s Weekly Jrnl., 27 Aug., 4. Any Person, having Occasion to imploy an Upholster, may be faithfully serv’d by Ann Hutchins.
1764. H. Walpole, Lett. to Dalrymple, 31 Jan. Our booksellers … are little more or less than upholsters.
fig. 1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 151. I … looue not to be an Vpholster of stuffed, and bombasted malice in other.
1614. J. Cooke, Greene’s Tu Quoque, H 1 b. When thou art growne to bee An old Vpholster vnto Venerie.
1660. W. Secker, Nonsuch Prof., 156. As for flatterers they may be stiled the Devils Upholsters.
† b. Used spec. with reference to the making and selling of beds and bedding. Obs.
1554. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 218. George Bedder … to occupy the bedders craft,… to sell upholsters wares wythyn the lybertyes of thys Cytye.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl. (Arb.), 80. When vpholsters sel fethers without dust.
1622. Breton, Fantastickes, Wks. (Grosart), II. 10/1. The Poulters feathers make toward the Upholster.
1647. Trapp, Comm., 1 John iii. 7. These are the devils … upholsters that sow such pillows.
1688. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 186. To John Poictvin, upholster,… for making two bedds and furniture for the Queen.
