Also 7 taubator, tabitter, 8 tabiter, 7–8 taberder, 7– tabardar. [f. taberd, TABARD.] lit. One who wears a tabard; a name formerly given to certain scholars of Queen’s College, Oxford, from the gown they wore; still surviving in the name of some of the scholarships at that college.
[1566. Register of Queen’s Coll., 5 April. Electio Taberdorum habita 50 die mensis Aprilis Anno Elizabethe Regine 80. Ibid. (1569), 29 Jan. Electio Taberdiorum.]
1648. in Burrows, Reg. Visitors Univ. Oxf. (Camden), 177. Oct., 30 Avery Tompson, Tho. Collinson, Taubators.
1660. Wood, Life, Dec. (O. H. S.), I. 352. The Taberder sings the aforesaid song. Ibid. (1691), Ath. Oxon., I. 348/2. After he [Henry Airay] was Bachelaurs standing, in 1583, he was made Pauper Puer, or Tabardus or Tabardarius; that is, a Tabarder or Tabitter, (so called because anciently they wore Coats or upper Gowns, much according to the fashion of those belonging to Heralds).
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., II. 243 (Queen’s College, Oxford.). The Society consists of a Provost, 16 Fellows, 16 Scholars, 2 Chaplains, 8 Taberders … and 40 Exhibitioners.
1882. Stat. Queen’s Coll., III. i. in Stat. Univ. Oxford, 336. The eight holders of Open Scholarships who are highest in seniority from the time of their election shall always be called Taberdars.
