Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 vewter. β. 6–8 feuterer, futerer, pheu-, phewterer, 6– fewterer. [ME. vewter and early modE. fewterer appear to be corrupted adoptions of AF. veutrier (= Anglo-Lat. veltrarius) in same sense, f. OF. ventre, vautre, veltre (later F. vautre) = Pr. veltre, It. veltro:—popular L. *veltrum, corruption of L. vertragum (nom. -us) greyhound, a Gaulish word, f. Celtic ver- intensive prefix + root trag- to run.]
A keeper of greyhounds. Also in a wider sense, an attendant. Also with defining word prefixed; as fox-, yeoman-fewterer.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1146.
| To trystors vewters ȝod, | |
| Couples huntes of kest, | |
| Þer ros for blasteȝ gode, | |
| Gret rurd in þat forest. |
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 631, in Babees Bk. (1868), 320.
| Þo vewter, two cast of brede he tase, | |
| Two lesshe of grehoundes, yf þat he hase. |
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan., iii. E v b. These pharisaicall foxe fewterers.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., II. iii. And perhaps stumble upon a yeoman pheuterer, as I doe now.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, II. ii.
| A dry nurse to his coughs, a fewterer | |
| To such a nasty fellow. |
1691. Blount, Law Dict., s.v. Vautrier, Hence our corrupted word Feuterer, for a Dog-keeper.
1737. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. i. 312. He that is chosen Fewterer, or that lets loose the Greyhounds, shall receive the Greyhounds match’d to run together into his Leesh as soon as he comes into the Field.
1801. Sporting Mag., XVIII. May, 100/2. Feuterer.—A dog-keeper.
