Law. Obs. Also 7 -our. [a. med.L. expenditor, agent-n. incorrectly (on the analogy of venditor, etc.) f. expendĕre: see EXPEND.] One who has charge of expenditure; spec. an officer formerly appointed by the Commissioners of Sewers to expend or disburse the money collected by tax for the repair of sewers; also an officer of the British Museum (see quot. 1847).
1499. in Hist. Co. Lincoln, I. 69. Expenditors … shall have by the day 1s. 8d. Ibid. The said expenditors shall have a clerk of sewers for the work.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 5 § 3. Expenditours and other ministers and officers for … the making of the premisses.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1547/1. The charge of these two wals … as appeareth in the expenditors books.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 134. A Collector, or Expenditor, or other Officer of Sewers.
1726. Laws of Sewers, 87. The Expenditor is the Person appointed by the Commissioners, to … expend the Money collected by the Tax.
1847. Evidence Royal Comm. Brit. Mus., 1. You [Sir H. Ellis] were also the expenditor?—That was an office … always given to the principal librarian. Ibid., 9. What is the nature of his duties as expenditor?—He receives the moneys.
transf. 1646. J. Benbrigge, Vsura Acc., 19. We are but his [God’s] Expenditours.
