Also 6 bankor, 7 bancker, banquer, 7–8 banquier. [f. BANK sb.3 + -ER. after F. banquier, freq. used in Eng. in 17th c.]
1. The keeper or manager of a BANK sb.3
† a. orig. A money-changer; then, one who dealt in bills of exchange, giving drafts and making remittances. Obs.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1385/2. In the temple, he had ouerthrowen the bankers tables.
1591. Percivall, Span. Dict., Banquero, a bankor, an exchanger of money, Argentarius.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., VI. 271. One Philippus, a bancker, or one that dealt in the exchange of money.
c. 1654. Flecknoe, Trav., 103, in Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 328. Our English money, current with much adoe in neighbouring countries … but farther off you must go to Banquiers of your own nation, or none will take it of your hands.
1683. Pettus, Fleta Min., II. 91. Monyers … lately called Bankers.
† b. subseq. One who also received money in deposit, and lent it upon interest, acting as an intermediary between borrowers and lenders. Obs.
a. 1553. Udall, Roister D., I. i. (Arb.), 11. Truely of all men he is my chiefe banker, Both for meate and money.
1611. Cotgr., Argentier … a Banker, one that lendeth, or exchangeth, money for gaine.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xii. § 64. To embogge himselfe in the Bankers and Usurers Bookes.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 291/1. He deposited some Money in the hands of a Banquier.
1670. Marvell, Corr., 166 (1875), II. 356. Voted that … all money in the hand of banquiers shall pay 15s. per 100l.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. X. 232. The provinces [of Rome] were overrun by publicans … confiscators, usurers, bankers.
Hence (in its beginnings not separable from the prec.): c. mod. The proprietor or one of the proprietors of a private bank; the manager or one of the managing body of a joint-stock bank; in pl. a joint-stock banking company.
Bankers’ Books, Books of Account, etc., extracts from which are admissible as evidence in a British Court of Law under ‘The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1876.’ Banker’s Book also = Bank Pass-book.
1670–1. Act 22 Chas. II., in Blount, Law Dict., s.v., Whereas several persons, Goldsmiths and others, by taking or borrowing great sums of mony, and lending out the same again, for extraordinary hire and profit, have gained and acquired to themselves the reputation and name of Bankers.
1671. Dryden, Even. Love, Epil. And Banquier-like, each day Accept new Bills, and he must break, or pay.
1727. Swift, State Irel., Wks. 1761, III. 174. The daily increase of bankers, who may be a necessary evil in a trading country, but so ruinous in ours.
1761. Gentl. Mag., XXXI. 601. Imposed on a young man, a banker’s-clerk.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. VIII. 153. There were not … twelve bankers shops at that time out of London.
1843. Dickens, Chr. Carol, 18. Scrooge took his melancholy dinner … and beguiled the rest of the evening with his banker’s-book.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy-bk. Prop. Law, VII. 42. You … deposit your money at a private banker’s, or in the Bank of England.
1866. Crump, Banking, 79. As money rises in value, the balances in the hands of bankers decrease.
2. Applied to a contributor to a Mons Pietatis: see BANK sb.3 6.
1646. J. Benbrigge, Usura Accom., 11. Neither Banke nor Bankers (as I may call the Contributors) can conceive they suffer any losse by … lending to the poor freely: because what they even give … is lent in Usury to the Lord.
3. One who keeps the ‘bank’ in a gambling house; the dealer, in some games of chance.
1826. Hor. Smith, Gal. & Grav., in Casquet Lit., 1877, I. 325/1. Each banker was provided with a rateau, or rake.
1850. Bohn, Handbk. Games, 328. Commerce … After determining the deal, the dealer, styled also the banker, shuffles the pack. Ibid., 342. Rouge et noir … To form the game, it is necessary that there should be a banker, or tailleur (Dealer), who represents him, and players, the number of whom is unlimited.
1884. Law Times Rep., 30 Aug., 809/2. Each banker pays 1 per cent. and the punters 5s. each.
