[a. OF. astre, aistre (mod.F. âtre) ‘hearth,’ of unknown origin.
(See Brachet âtre, Littré âtre, êtres, Diez piastra. The med.L. astrum, in same sense, is quoted by Du Cange only from English authors, as if formed on AF. astre.)]
A hearth, a home. Hence Astrer (see quot.)
[1292. Britton, II. xxxviii. § 6. Chescun communer qi ad astre en mesme la vile.]
a. 1500[?]. in Utterson, Pop. Poetry, II. 78 (Halliw.). Bad her take the pot … And set it aboove upon the astire.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 507. Astre, that is to say, the stocke, harth, or chimney, for fire.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 278. They have the privilege of the Astre, or herth for fire, in the Mansion house.
1865. Nichols, Britton, II. 155, note. An astrer … was a peasant householder, residing at the hearth or home where he was bred.
1882. Elton, Orig. Eng. Hist., 191. [In] Montgomeryshire … Austerland is that which had a house upon it in ancient times.
