Obs. exc. Hist. Also 6 coustrell, 6–7 costrel(l, costerel. See also COISTREL. [Coincides in meaning with OF. coustillier, -illeur, lit. a soldier armed with a coustille (see CUSTILE), hence, ‘an esquire of the bodie, an armour-bearer vnto a knight, the seruant of a man at armes; also, a groome of a stable’ (Cotgr.). But the regular Eng. repr. of this would be custeler, custler, and it is not easy to account for the metathesis of this to custrel. The secondary sense ‘knave, base fellow’ (commoner in the variant coistrel) is not found with Fr. coustillier, and seems to have arisen from association with CUSTRON.]
1. An attendant on a knight or man-at-arms.
1492. in Rymer Fœdera (1710), XII. 478. Every of theim havyng with him his Custrell and his Page.
1495. Hen. VII., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 11, I. 21. To make as many speres with their custrelles and di.lances … as ye can furnisshe.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 512. The Kyng ordeined 50 gentlemenne to bee speres, euery of theim to haue an Archer a Demilaunce and a Custrell.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., I. xix. (1609), 26. They [Esquires] were at the first Costerels or the bearers of the Armes of Lords or Knights.
1613–8. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 93. Brabansons (which were certayne Mercenaries commonly called the Routs or Costerels).
1830. G. P. R. James, Darnley, I. xi. 248. Now promoted to the dignity of custrel, or shield-bearer.
2. A term of reproach: Knave, base fellow. See COISTREL 2.
1581–1783. [see COISTREL].
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. vi. 176. Thou art the damned doorkeeper to every custerel [printed cusherel, Globe coistrel], that comes enquiring for his Tib.
