[f. as prec. + -ER1.] One who or that which flourishes.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 7. Faire florischers and hiȝteres of wordes and of metre.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 102. Florischars of þis warld, to qwhome temperall prosperite þou gyfs & endles payns kepys.
1491. in York Myst., Introduction, p. xxxix. Tixt-wryters, luminers, noters, turners, and florisschers.
1598. Florio, Gladiatore, a fencer or flourisher with his weapon.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIII. 689.
| For not our greatest flourisher can equall him in powre | |
| Of foote-strife, but Æacides. |
1617. Wardens’ Acc., in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 429. Payde to John Bradshawe for himself and 18 fellow florishers with long swordes for their servyce.
1624. Gataker, Transubst., 233. So far is it from that which this flourisher affirmeth, that the ancient Brittons neere the Apostles times were of the same Faith & iudgement in that point with our Romanists.
a. 1734. North, Life F. North (1742), 332. He was not an Orator, as commonly understood, that is a Flourisher, but all his Speech was fluent, easy, and familiar.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xvii. All our dashing, saucy frigates have names as long as the main-top bowling, and hard enough to break your jaw—such as Melpomeny, Terpsichory, Arethusy, Bacchanty—fine flourishers, as long as their pennants which dip alongside in a calm.
