Forms: α. 6–7 verderour, 7–9 -or. β. 7– verderer. γ. 8– verdurer. [a. AF. verderer (1278), extended form of verder VERDER2, f. OF. verd (var. of vert: see VERD sb. and VERT sb.1):—L. viridis green. In med.L. rendered by viridarius.]
1. ‘A judicial officer of the King’s forest … sworn to maintain and keep the assises of the forest, and also to view, receive, and enroll the attachments and presentments of all manner of trespasses of the forest, of vert and venison’ (Manwood).
In later use chiefly surviving in connection with New, Epping, and Dean Forests. Otherwise only arch. or Hist.
α. 1541–2. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 38 § 5. Surveiyng of Woodes … in any of ye said Parkes, Forrestes or chases,… and the namynge, rulinge and orderinge of the verderours thereof.
1614. Selden, Titles Hon., 269. These … foure seem to haue been as those which later time haue stiled Verderors of the Forest.
1644. Coke’s Inst., IV. c. 73, Courts of Forests (1797), 289. It was presented by the foresters, verderors, and agisters that the plaintiff has chased and taken deer within the forest.
1667–8. [see REGARDER 1].
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 709. He … appointed likewise in each [part] two gentlemen of his household, as verderors to take care of the vert and venison.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 343. He is likewise to decide the elections of knights of the shire,… of coroners, and of verderors.
1791. W. Gilpin, Forest Scenery, II. 20. Besides these officers … there are four others, called verderors. Ibid., 21. The verderor is an ancient forest-officer.
1866. Chamb. Jrnl., April, 261/1. Under the Norman régime, the officers of the Forest were Verderors, Regarders, and Foresters (besides others). Ibid., 261/2. The verderor, to look after the vert.
β. 1611. Cotgr., Segrayer, a Verderer, or such a like Officer of some authoritie, in forrests.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), II. IV. xvi. 39. A Forest hath Lawes of her own, to take cognisance of all trespasses; she hath also her peculiar Officers, as Foresters, Verderers, Regarders, Agisters, &c.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 114. The amplitude of the distance … resign’d to the care of the Verderer.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 39. There are severall Rangers of ye forest, and 6 verderers yt are their justices or judges of all matters relateing to ye forest.
1812. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., XXXIV. 210. A forest has laws and officers of its own, as foresters, verderers, &c.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVI. 175/1. The verderers and regarders [of the New Forest] are chosen by the freeholders of Hampshire. Ibid. The verderers have no salary, emolument, or perquisite, besides a fee buck and a fee doe yearly.
1892. Times, 16 July, 11/2. Hampshire … has completed its roll of Unionist county members, the New Forest Division … returning the son of the Verderer, Lord Montagu.
γ. 1734. Sir R. Atkins’ Parl. & Pol. Tracts, 62. As Coroners and Verdurers [1689 Verderers] … are chosen by Writ at the County-Court to this day.
1763. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., II. 221. The … Forest of Sherwood … has … a Ranger, 4 Verdurers, 12 Regarders.
1826. Scott, Woodst., xxxii. [The] hut … of old Martin the verdurer.
1884. Tennyson, Becket, I. iv. The King’s verdurer caught him a-hunting in the forest, and cut off his paws.
† 2. local. A petty constable having supervision of a city ward. Obs.–1
1791. [see VERDERY].
