Obs. Forms: 3–4 bed-yver(e, 4–5 bed-ifere, bedde-fere, 4–6 bed-fore, 6 s. w. dial. bed-aver, 7 bed-phe(e)re. [cf. BED + IFERE, and FERE:—OE. ʓefera companion, fellow. The longer form bed-ifere was retained in s. w. dial., where it appeared in 16th c. as bed-aver; bed-fere was the literary form till 17th c.]
c. 1300. in Wright’s Lyric P., xv. 49. Lyare wes mi latymer, Sleuthe ant slep mi bedyuer [printed bedyner].
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 229. Unto his bed[i]fere, Deidamy he hath by night. Ibid., III. 65. He shal be your beddefere.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., 122. Wyl your bedauer, gosse, come home at the next tyde?… My bedauer wyl to London, to try the law.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., II. v. Her that I mean to choose for my bedphere.
1614. Chapman, Odyss., III. 542. His bedfere was Pisistratus.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Bedpheere (Sax.) a Bed-fellow.
