Obs. (exc. arch.) Also 4–5 lymer(e, 5 lemer, lymour, -eer, 5–6 lymmer, limmer, 5, 7 lemor, (corrupt forms 6–8 levyner, -iner, lyemmer), 7–9 leamer. [a. AF. limer = OF. liemier (mod.F. limier), f. OF. liem (F. lien) leash: see LIEN1 and LYAM.] A kind of hound, properly a leash-hound; in early use (and now arch.) a bloodhound; later, a mongrel.

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c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 362. There ouertoke I a grete route Of hunters and eke of foresters, And many relayes and lymers.

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c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 56. With Alauntes, Lymmeris and Racches free.

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1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 21444. They berke, they byte, ryht felly,… The grete lemerys wer so strong.

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c. 1440.  Partonope, 530. Fayre Grehoundes and grete lymours.

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a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 15. Hauithe youre loke and holdithe youre hede ferme as a best that is called a lymer.

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1486.  Bk. St. Albans, F iv b. Theis be the namys of houndes … a Mastyfe, a Lemor, a Spanyell.

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1538.  Elyot, Dict., Hybrida, is a dogge, ingendred betwyxte a hounde and a mastyue, called a lymmar, or mongrell.

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[1570.  Caius, De Canibus Brit., 11 b. A leuitate, Leuyner, à loro Lyemmer appelatur is quem Leuinarium & Lorarium latine nominauimus.]

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1576.  Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs, in Arb., Garner, III. 264. Of the Levyner or the Lyemmer.

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1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 185/1. The Leviner, or Lyemmer, or Leamer; so called from the Leam, or Lyne wherewith they are led.

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1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), Limer, a great Dog to hunt the wild Boar.

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1828.  Webster, Leamer, a dog, a kind of hound.

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1897.  D. H. Madden, Diary Wm. Silence, 65. The bloodhound, or limer, would have been entitled to the first share [of the hart’s paunch].

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