[orig. a. F. fruitier, f. fruit; later prob. independently f. FRUIT sb. or v. + -ER1.] † a. One who deals in, or has the care of fruit. b. A vessel engaged in the fruit-trade. c. A tree that produces fruit. d. A fruit-grower.
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 22. Besides the fruter and waferer.
c. 1500. Cocke Lorell’s B. (Percy Soc.), 9. Fruyters, chese-mongers, and mynstrelles.
1667. Canterbury Marriage Licences, 31 July (MS.). William Settertree of Brooke … fruiter.
1860. A. Cumming, in Merc. Marine Mag., VII. 102. Let them … swing to one anchor … (as the fruiters do at St. Michael’s).
1870. Harper’s Mag., XLI. 864. A man can’t bring into port … a fruiter from the Levant, with Portuguese and Greeks before the mast.
1882. Gard. Chron., XVII. 21 Jan., 79/1. The former [Tomato] is a handsome variety of medium growth, and a sure fruiter.
1887. J. E. McGowan, Chattanooga & Tennessee, 35. The fruiter, farmers and truckers have now more capital for their business.
