Obs. Also 4 spensere, 4–5 spenser, 6 Sc. spensar; 5 spencere. [a. AF. espenser (cf. SPENCE2), var. of despenser, OF. despencier, DISPENSER.] One who dispenses or has charge of the provisions in a household; a steward or butler.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 4447. Þe spenser and þe botelar bath þe king self wit þaim was wrath.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 413. Þus a clerk or spenser of a curat may parte þes godis in þe name of hym.
14[?]. Lat.-Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 561. Acellarius, a spenser.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Town & C. Mouse, xix. The spensar come with keyis in his hand.
β. c. 1400. Gamelyn, 193. Adam þe spencer toke vp þe clothe.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 175. After he was kynge, he wedded hure…, His owne spencers douȝter he [= she] was.
1483. Cath. Angl., 354/1. A Spencer, vbi A butler.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Despensier, qui a la garde de la viande, a spencer.
