Also 5–7 Sc. feryare, ferrear, -iour, 8, 9 ferryer. [f. FERRY v. + -ER1.]
1. = FERRYMAN.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 156/2. Feryare, pormeus.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. v. 8.
| Thir riueris and thir watteris kepit war | |
| By ane Charon, a grislie ferriar. |
1605. Stow, Ann., 250. The ferrier and his wife deceesing, left the same ferrie to their daughter.
1752. J. B. Maccoll, in Scots Mag., Aug. (1753), 400/1. He met Archibald Macinish ferrier.
1860. All the Year Round, III. No. 55., 12 May, 119/2. The ghosts wouldn’t have a chance, and I suppose have cast themselves in disgust into the Thames, and become Pixies, ferriers, and Undines.
1871. Browning, Balaustion’s Adventure (1881), 45.
| The ferryer of the dead, | |
| Charon, hand hard upon the boatman’s-pole, | |
| Calls me. |
2. dial. (See quot.)
1886. Chesh. Gloss., Ferrier, salt-mining term; one who ferries or conveys the rock salt from the workings to the shaft.
