arch. Forms: 4 cloistrere, 4–6 cloystrer, -e, 4–7 -terer, 5 cloistrer, 6 -eer, 6–9 cloisterer. [a. OF. cloistrier (mod.F. cloîtrier):—late L. claustrārius, f. claustrum.] One who dwells in a cloister; a monk or nun.

1

1340.  Ayenb., 67. Þe cloystrers aye þe abbottes and þe priours.

2

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 27172 (Fairf.). Werlds man, clerk or cloistrere [Cott. closterer].

3

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 259. Ffor þer he was not lich a cloysterer.

4

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, v. (Arb.), 10. He was a cloysterer or a closyd recluse.

5

1548.  Udall, Erasm. Par., Pref. 3. Counterfaict cloistreers of Antichristes owne generacion.

6

1627.  Bp. Hall, No Peace with Rome, § 20. 680. Some superstitious old wife, or some idle and silly cloysterer.

7

1818.  J. H. Frere, Whistlecraft’s National Poem, III. ix.

        He thinks that Orpheus meant a race of cloisterers,
Obnoxious to the Bacchanalian roisterers.

8