Forms: 4–5 vsscher, usscher, uscher, 5 vschere, vshure, 6 vscher; 4–5 vssher (5 -ere), 4–6 ussher (5 -ere), 6 vsher, 5– usher (7 ushier); 4 oyschere, 5 oischer; Sc. 5 isscheare, 5–6 ischar, 6 ischair, -ear, 7 isher. [a. AF. usser (12th c.), OF. ussier, uissier, uscier, var. of huisier, etc., HUISHER sb. Cf. OSTIAR(Y.]
1. An official or servant who has charge of the door and admits people to a hall, chamber, etc.; a door-keeper; in later use esp. an officer in a court of justice, or an attendant who conducts people to seats in a church, public hall, or place of amusement.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 293. The vsshers and the squiers been ygoon, The spices and the wyn is come anoon.
a. 1400–50. Boke of Curtasye, 30, in Babees Bk., 300. Whille marshalle or vssher come fro þe dore, And bydde the sitte, or to borde the lede.
c. 1400. Northern Passion (H.), 617. Saint iohn spak to vsscher þan.
c. 1410. Sir Cleges, 287. The vsscher at the hall dore was Wyth a staffe stondynge.
a. 1470. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), VI. xi. 249/1. She dyd hyr offyce, for she was usshere and keper at the dore.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xcvi. 110 b/1. Than the squyer … called the vssher to open the dore.
c. 1610. in [T. Maude], Verbeia or Wharfdale (1782), App. 43. The Usher’s Wordes of Directions. First,… he must before them thro’ the hall [etc.].
1677. Govt. Venice, 121. He disposes of the little Offices about the Palace, as the Ushers and others.
1694. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. England, I. III. 681. Chelsea College…. There are several other … Servants, as … Sexton, Usher, Porters [etc.].
1728. Chambers, Cycl. (1738), s.v., The ushers of the inquisition think themselves highly honoured, by only looking to the doors of the sacred tribunal.
1799. Report Comm. Courts of Justice, 29. Usher of the Court. Ibid., 31. The Court of King’s Bench … [Officers include] Usher and Cryer. Deputy Cryers. Deputy Ushers.
1868. Dickens, Lett., 3 Jan. He met one of the ‘ushers’ (who show people to their seats) coming in with Kelly.
1898. A. M. Binstead, Pink ’Uns & Pelican, 181. Like the legal gent…, asked to define the duties of the ushers in the law courts.
b. fig., transf., and in fig. context.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 163. Crist … haþ resoun of many þingis; for he is dore, he is ussher.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. xvii. (MS. Cott. Tib. D. VII.), fol. 188. Seþþe … so meny … priueleges … were ygrauntet to petur y dare noȝt wiþsygge [so] grete and soche an oyschere and porter.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 20. Make eie to be vsher, good vsage to haue, make bolt to be porter.
1594. Zepheria, v. B 3. Feare, Centinell of sad discretion,… Cares Vsher, Tenant to his owne oppression.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 258. Arminianisme is but a Bridge, an Vsher vnto grosse Popery.
1638. T. Whitaker, Blood of Grape, 4. As if Satiation were the Usher of diseases.
1709. Steele & Swift, Tatler, No. 67, ¶ 10. In this chamber of Fame … no historians are to be admitted at any of these tables; because they … are to be made use of as ushers to the assemblies.
1878. Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ., i. § 5. 27. Being the usher of souls in their passage to the future state.
c. Const. of (the hall, chamber, etc.).
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 432, in Babees Bk. Speke I wylle a lytulle qwyle Of vssher of chambur, with-outen gyle. [Description of his duties follows.]
1436[?]. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 13. I was put to þe Soudenys house & was made vssher of halle.
1480. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 49/1. Sir Johne of Culquhone … vschare in þe tyme of oure souerane lordis chawmer durre.
1503. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., II. 311. John Knox ischar of the hall.
1538. Elyot, Admissionales, vshers of the chambre.
1623. Cockeram, II. An Vsher of a Hall, atrict.
1728. Chambers, Cycl. (1738), s.v., In the French Court there are two ushers of the ante-chamber, or hall where the king dines in public.
fig. a. 1500[?]. Assemb. Ladies, in Skeat, Chaucerian Pieces (1897), 383. I am … Of her [sc. Loyalty’s] chambre her ussher.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., III. lviii. Humanitie and trew Relatioun Bene ischaris of his chalmer.
d. U.S. One who performs the functions of an usher (sense 1) at a wedding.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVII. 181. He sent the young lady a beautiful Colport cup and saucer,… at the same time breathing a prayer that Elliott would not ask him to be usher.
2. An officer at court, in a dignitary’s household, etc., whose duty it is on occasion to walk or go before a person of high rank; also, a chamberlain. Usher of the Black Rod, Green Rod: (see BLACK ROD, and quot. 1869).
1518. H. Watson, Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.), N 2 b. There came dyuers kynges and herauldes of armes, and after came the Vsshers.
1553. Rutland Papers (Camden), 118. The Duke of Northfolke … claymethe to be highe vssher the daye of the coronacion.
1641. Sc. Acts Chas. I. (1870), V. 332/1. Commandit … to goe befoir the king as Ischear with ane rod in his hand.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), s.v., Usher of the Black-rod.
1689. Breviate St. Scot., 10. The Second Great Heritable Offices in the Kingdom, are The Lord High Constable,… The Heritable Usher.
1718. Echard, Hist. Eng., III. 622. The Usher of the Black-Rod cominanded their Attendance in the House of Lords.
1721. Ramsay, Poems, I. List of Subscribers, Usher of the Green Rod, and daily Waiter to his Majesty.
1850. Marsden, Early Purit., 402. The king sent down the usher of the House of Lords with a message.
1869. Cussans, Her., 235. The Officers attached to this Noble Order [of the Knights of the Thistle] are: The Dean;… and the Usher of the Green Rod.
fig. 1641. Milton, Reformation, 2. Faith needing not … the Senses, to be either the Vshers, or Interpreters, of heavenly Mysteries.
1673. A. Walker, Leez Lachrymans, 18. When he is pleased to send this usher of the Black-Rod, Death,… a white-staffe is too weak to make Resistance.
transf. 1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husbandry, III. 116. A Colt … passeth bridges, not tarring for an vsher, nor fearing the Ise.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. vi. 44. The wife of Anttony Should have an Army for an Vsher.
1626. T. H[awkins], Caussin’s Holy Crt., 37. Anciently Pearles were called Vshers, because they made way for Ladyes, who were attyred with them.
1726. Pope, Odyssey, XVII. 251. The good old proverb how this pair fulfill! One rogue is usher to another still.
1763. Churchill, The Ghost, IV. 37. A downright Usher to admit New-Comers to the Court of Wit.
† b. A male attendant on a lady. Obs.
1621. Fletcher, Wild-G. Chase, III. i. If she want an Usher; such an implement; One that is throughly pac’d; a clean made Gentleman; Can hold a hanging up.
1649. Davenant, Love & Honour, I. i. Consumptive Ushers that are decay’d In their Ladies service.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 96. She call’d for Hood And Usher, Implements abroad Which Ladies wear.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas, I. xvi. A lady who … was squired by an old usher [F. écuyer], and a little black moor carried her train.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. xvi. ¶ 2. She released her sweet hand from the custody of the usher [F. écuyer].
3. One who precedes or arrives before another, esp. a higher dignitary or personage; a precursor. Also transf. Cf. HARBINGER sb. 3.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 28. By his ussher and messenger John.
c. 1550. N. Smyth, trans. Herodian, III. 40 b. He had certayne Usshers going before him, whiche commaunded euerye man to auoyde the stretes.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 151. That other lesson … [Christ] suffered his Ushers that went before him to teach.
1847. Emerson, Initial Love, 75. Heralds high before him [sc. Cupid] run, He has ushers many a one.
b. transf. That which precedes or gives intimation of the approach or advent of a person or thing.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. L. i. God comes,… His guarde huge stormes, hot flames his ushers goe.
1599. Sir J. Davies, Hymns of Astræa, 5. Early, chearfull, mounting Larke, Lights gentle Vsher.
1633. P. Fletcher, Elisa, I. xxviii. Ah death!… Thou one meals fast, usher to endlesse feasting.
1640. J. Gower, Ovid’s Festiv., II. 32. In comes the Lecher bold;… His groping hands his warie ushers were.
1645. Stapylton, trans. Musæus, C j b. Leander … Expecting the sad Torch, and to be led By that bright Vsher to his private bed.
fig. a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvii. Stretching out his hand, and making vehement countenances the ushers to his speches.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxii. § 18. Fasts haue beene set as Vshers of festiuall dayes.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. i. 173. [Stage direction] A showt, and flourish. Volum. These are the Vshers of Martius.
1632. trans. Bruel’s Praxis Med., 58. Troublesome dreames are vshers to this disease.
c. 1670. M. Bruce, Gd. News in Evil Times, etc. (1708), 26. They make the Sabbath, as it were, Mr. Usher to their Visiting of Christ.
c. Ent. A species of moth.
1819. G. Samouelle, Entomol. Compend., 360. Geometra leucophearia, The Spring Usher. Ibid. [G.] nigricaria, The dark-bordered Usher.
1832. Rennie, Brit. Butterfl. & Moths, 102. The Spring Usher (Anisopteryx leucophearia, Stephens) appears in oak woods the end of February. Ibid. The Wall Usher (A. Æscularia).
4. An assistant to a schoolmaster or head-teacher; an under-master, assistant-master. Now rare. Also in fig. context.
1512. Nottingham Rec. (1885), III. 453. To … establisshe one free schole of one Schole Maister and one Vssher.
1561. in H. B. Wilson, Hist. Merchant-Taylors’ Sch. (1814), 15. Yff both the maister and the usshers be sick at once (as God defend) then let the schoole cease for that while.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. to Osorius, 259 b. Who hath made you usher I pray you, or prepositour of Ciceroes schoole?
1632. D. Lupton, London & Countrey carbonadoed, 119. Country Vshers … are vnder the Head-maister, equall with the chiefe Schollers, and aboue the lesser boyes.
1653. Baxter, Worc. Petit. Def., 6. We are but Ushers, and Christ is the … chief Master of the School.
1669. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., II. 483. This Colledge consists of a Master…, a Chaplain,… Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars.
1687. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 247. His being usher to a Presbyterian scholemaster.
1711. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 205. Tollet is made IId Master, he being before a chief Usher.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1732. He accepted of an offer … as usher in the school of Market-Bosworth.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxvii. Conning over a few pages of Horace or Juvenal with his usher.
c. 1868. in Hughes, Tom Brown (ed. 6), Pref. Persecution … he can’t stop; no more could all the ushers in the world.
1876. Scheme C.C. 8 governing Foundation Thetford School Hosp., 6. From the same date … the present usher of the said School shall cease to hold his office as such Usher.
† b. transf. A teacher or preceptor acting under another. Obs.
1533. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 585/2. Oure sauiour … sent him [sc. Judas] forth … for one of hys vsshers to teache in his owne time.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., VI. xiv. 105. He ordained Heraclas … his fellowe helper, and Usher,… committing vnto him the instruction of the inferiour sort.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. iv. 16. Nature was his Schoole master; or if you will rather, Gods Usher.
c. = PROVOST sb. 8.
1545. [see PROVOST sb. 8].
1699. Boyer, I. Prevost de sale d’armes, the Provost, or Usher of a Fencing-School.
1765. Angelo, Sch. Fencing, 52. When an usher … has finished his apprenticeship under an able master,… he is obliged to fence with several masters.
† 5. Usher of the coins, Change, or Exchange, an officer of the Mint. Obs.
1485. Cal. Patent Rolls (1914), 49. [The] countroller,… clerk and ussher of the coynes.
1485. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 365/2. The Office of Usher of the Exchaunge of oure said Soveraigne Lord, within his Towre [of London].
6. attrib. and Comb., as usher life, -like.
1580. Fulke, Martiall Confut., iv. 164. An other foolish brable and vsherlike construing, he maketh of Cyprians words.
1873. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 341. The eight years I had then gone through of usher life.
Hence Usherdom, the office or status of an usher; Usheress, a female usher; Usherian, of or pertaining to an usher or ushers; Usherism, conduct or comportment characteristic of ushers.
1846. Worcester (citing Qu. Rev.), *Usherdom.
1905. A. C. Benson, Upton Lett., 108. The ugly slough of usherdom.
1879. Ch. Times, 5 Sept. An appointment. as an *‘usheress’ in a big establishment.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. iv. Certain powers were … delegated to … beings called Ushers…. The *usherian rule had, however, always been comparatively light at Burnsley Vicarage.
1869. Ellis, E. E. Pronunc., I. vi. 625. That kind of pedantic self-sufficiency which is the true growth of half-enlightened ignorance, and may be termed *‘usherism.’
