subs. (old).—1. A pander; and (2), a bawd. [SKEAT: O. Fr. maquereau = pandar, from Teut. source preserved in Du., makelaar = broker, pandar, from Du. makelen = to procure.]
1483. CAXTON, Cato Magnus. Nyghe his hows dwellyd a MAQUEREL or bawde.
1513. DOUGLAS, Eneados, ‘Proloug’ (Book IV), (Edinburgh, 1874, ii. 170, l. 30). Sic poyd MAKRELLES for Lucifer bene leche.
1615. OVERBURY, Characters. A MAQUERELA, in plaine English a Bawde, is an old char-cole, that hath been burnt her selfe, and therefore is able to kindle a whole greene coppice.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes. As some get their liuing by their tounges, as Interpreters, Lawyers, Oratours, and Flatterers; some by tayles, as MAQUERELLAES, Concubines, Curtezanes, or in plaine English, Whores.
1659. Lady Alimony, ii., 2 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 296]. The only safe way for these gamesome MACQUERELLAS is to antedate their conception before their separation.
1633. SHIRLEY, The Triumph of Peace [NARES]. After these, a MAQUERELLE, two wenches, two wanton gamesters.
1650. HOWELL, Familiar Letters [NARES]. The pandar did his office, but brought him a citizen clad in damoisells apparell, so she and her MAQUERELL were paid accordingly.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
Adj. (printers’).—Smeared; blurred and indistinct.
