[f. WALK v.1 + -ER1.]
I. One who walks.
1. With the construction of the verb in various senses, e.g., One who walks in (a place), on (a surface), one who walks about.
† Walker on ropes, a rope-walker, funambulist.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 102. And Riht so walkers þat walken A-bouten From Religion to Religion Rocheles ben þei euere.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 89. He [Paul, Phil. iii. 18] seyde … Wepyng, y warne ȝow of walkers aboute.
c. 1530. Hickescorner, 373. Walkers by nyght.
1545. Elyot, Dict., Neurobatæ, walkers on cordes or ropes.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, iii. (1592), 39. Calling him the euerlasting Father, the Walker vpon the Heauen of Heauens.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. V. iii. (1903), 476. Not to speake of frequent spectacles in London exhibited to the people by Fencers, by walkers on Ropes, and like men of actiuity.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., i. 2. So said one of the usuall blacke walkers in Westminster Hall. Another of our Parliament-pressing Ministers … told me plainely, That my conscience was not so good as in the beginning of the Parliament.
1866. R. S. Candlish, 1st Epist. John viii. 80. He was no privileged walker amid earth’s dark scenes of misery and sin.
b. in transitive senses of the vb.: const. of.
1611. Bible, Judg. v. 6. The traueilers [marg. walkers of paths] walked thorow by-wayes.
1834. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho., i. A poetical walker of the hospitals.
† 2. A traveller. In quot. fig. Obs.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xiv. (1869), 9. Ther of certeyn hauen gret neede alle pilgrimes and alle walkers that passen bi this eerthe.
3. A person (or animal) who journeys or goes about on foot; one who takes walking exercise. Often with an epithet, as good, quick, slow etc. walker.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 300. Hee … conducted them vnto the place where the collation was prepared for the walkers.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 25. And shadie seates, and sundry flowring bankes, To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 193. If the walker go to visit any one,… he shall meet the party.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 6, ¶ 5. He gives Plates for the best performing Horse … for him that trots best,… for the best Walker, [etc.].
1786. Reynolds, Disc. R. Acad., xiii. Wks. 1797, I. 287. The forms and turnings of the streets … are produced by accident, without any original plan or design: but they are not always the less pleasant to the walker or spectator, on that account.
1815. Scott, Guy M., lii. The cool breeze served only to freshen, not to chill, the fair walkers.
1858. Mrs. Paul, Maiden Sisters, xxiii. 210. I am the worst walker of the three, and I am not the least tired.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, xxiii. She was an excellent walker.
b. One who takes part in walking-matches or walks for a wager.
1778. Ann. Reg., 210. Mr. Powell, the noted walker, started from Lee-Bridge, to run two miles in ten minutes.
1866. Athlete, 120. The long distances being of too serious a character for the ambition of the amateur walkers of the present day.
c. A colporteur or tract-distributor.
1846. G. P. R. James, Step-mother, xl. II. 122. ‘A walker of the Tract Society,’ said Mr. Prior to himself, as he eyed him.
d. dial. An itinerant beggar or vagrant.
1850. Denham, Pop. Rhymes etc. I. of Man, Tracts (1892), I. 193. It is customary for these walkers, as they are called, to enter a house without knocking, and take a seat by the fire…. Some still retain the good old custom of keeping up a bed for the walker.
4. One who acts in a particular manner or pursues a certain line of conduct: with adj. corresponding to the advb. qualification of the verb (See WALK v.1 6 a). Now rare or Obs.
1680. Manton, Serm. Ps. cxix. 56 (1725), 300. But a close walker, that waits upon God in an humble and constant Obedience, shall have sufficient encouragement even in this Life.
1683. H. Compton, Episcopalia (1686), 66. There is another sort of disorderly Walkers who still keep amongst us.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 8. They would be cast out of the … Communion of the Faithful as disorderly Walkers.
† 5. A keeper or ranger who had a specified ‘walk’ in the forest, a gamekeeper. Obs.
1481–90. Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.), 225. Item, to the parker of Neylond xx.d. Item, to the walkeres, viij.d.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 7 § 1. Any of the said foresters rulers walkers or fermers.
1647. Haward, Crown Revenue, 42. Walker about the pales of the Chace: Fee 6. 1. 8.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey).
† 6. An officer of the New River Company, having the charge of a ‘walk’ or section of the bank. Obs. (Cf. walksman, WALK sb.1 20.)
1613. Middleton, Manner Entert. (Opening of New River), 3. First here’s the Ouer-seer,… [then various workmen] The Labourers next, Keeper of Amwell-head, The Walkers last.
7. Sport. One who ‘walks up’ partridges.
1913. Times, 12 Sept., 12/6. The walkers then will soon be manœuvring to keep their coveys in hand.
8. † a. (See quot. 1658.) Obs. b. A bird, insect, etc., characterized by walking, as distinguished from other modes of progression. Also a stick-insect (Cent. Dict., 1891).
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Insects, 1035. Now we proceed to walkers about. We call those walkers, who have no certain houses or food: wherefore they do something superstitiously wander like pilgrims,… wherefore the English call them Palmer-worms, namely for their wandring life, for they dwell no where.
1817. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xxii. II. 277. The next order of walkers amongst apodous larvæ are those that [etc.].
1872. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 44. It is among the Cursores, or walkers, and especially wading birds, that the crus is most naked.
1894. R. B. Sharpe, Birds Gt. Brit., I. 4. Nearly all the Crows are ‘Ambulatores’ or ‘Walkers,’ that is to say, they do not hop.
† 9. a. pl. (A person’s) legs or feet. b. slang. The feet. Obs.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XX. 36. And with them halted downe … lame Mulciber; his walkers quite misgrowne, But made him tread exceeding sure.
1832. P. Egan’s Bk. Sports, 130/2, note. But her owner,… the Colonel, from his ‘upper crust’ down to his ‘walker,’ is a match for all England against any thing.
Hence † Walkership, the office of a walker of the forest.
1647. Haward, Crown Rev., 47. Com. Leicester. Keeper of the Walke, alias Walkership: Fee, 2. 0. 0.
1721. Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1822), II. I. 481. The King … gave to … Sir John Gates the keepership and walkership of two good walks in Waltham forest.
