Chiefly Sc. Forms: 4–7 fles(c)har, -ir, -or, -(e)our, 7– flesher. [f. FLESH sb. + -ER. Cf. Ger. fleischer; also FLESHHEWER, of which this may be an alteration.]
1. A dealer in flesh, a butcher.
1369. Mem. Ripon (1882), I. 137. Joh. de Staynlay, Fleshour.
1483. Cath. Angl., 135/2. A Fleschour, macellarius.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, III. (1822), 274. He pullit ane swerde fra ane flescheour.
a. 1651. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 121. A fleshiour, named Sandersone, had putt away his lawfull wife, under colour, that they were lawfullie divorced after the Popish maner, and had takin another into his hous.
1826. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 186. Taking their forenoon’s airing, alang Princes Street, on a bit shachlin ewe-necked powney, coft frae a sportin flesher.
1853. Reade, Chr. Johnstone, xi. 176. The baddish boy had obtained them [steaks], in his sister’d name and at her expense, at the flesher’s, and claimed credit for his affection.
transf. 1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. (1822), 160. The pepill had na litill indignacioun that this Marcius suld rise sa haistelie to be thair new fleschour and skurgeare, or to have ony power of life or deith abone thame.
2. U.S. A tool for fleshing hides; a fleshing-knife.
1885. C. T. Davis, Manuf. Leather, 309. The saw-toothed flesher sometimes employed for dry hides.
Hence Fleshery (Sc.) ‘The business of a butcher; now called Fleshing’ (Jam., Suppl., 1825).
1483. [see FLESHHEWERY].
1541. Aberdeen Reg., V. 19 (Jam.). The counsale licent him to vse his craft of fleshary to outred his pennyworths.
