Obs.; also achatour, achator. [a. Anglo-Norm. acatour, early Fr. acateor (later OFr. achatour, mod. Fr. acheteur) a buyer:—late L. accaptătōrem, n. of agent f. accaptāre: see ACATE. ACHATOUR came to be restricted more to the official title of an officer of the Royal Household; acatour, acater, passed into common use, and was aphetized to catour, CATER.] A purchaser of provisions, a purveyor; a provider or preparer of cates or delicacies; a cater or caterer.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 568 (Camb. MS.). A gentyl Maunciple was þere of a temple, Of whiche acatouris myȝte take exsaumple [Harl. MS. achatours].
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Devil is an Ass, I. ii. (? iii.). He is my wardrobe man, my acater, cook, Butler, and steward.
