Also 4–5 amblere, aumbelere, 5 ambuler. [f. AMBLE v. + -ER1.] One that ambles; hence,
1. An ambling horse or mule.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 469. Vp on an amblere [v.r. aumbelere] esily sche sat.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. viii. 525. A man holdith vp with the bridil the heed of his ambuler.
1464. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 184. Ij. hawmbelerres koltes in Wensche parke.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xxviii. (1817), II. 47. He mounted vpon a softe ambuler and rode to Kynge Marke.
1591. Percivall, Span. Dict., Amblador, an ambler, Gradarius equus.
1630. Howell, Lett., 5 June. An ambler is proper for a lady’s saddle, but not for a coach.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Horse, The Ambler is a little unapt to it [galloping], because the motions are both one.
2. One who rides an ambling horse.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. xix. 164. The Ambler had rid the Horse into the cold Water.
3. One who ‘ambles’ in dancing or walking.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xi. The ambler took Miss Podsnap for a furniture walk. Ibid. Georgiana having left the ambler up a lane of sofa.
