European corruptions of Timur lenk = lame Timur, appellation of Timur, the great Tartar conqueror 1335–1405, the title-character of Marlowe’s tragedy Tamburlaine, 1586, and of Rowe’s Tamerlane, 1702. Used allusively for a person like Timur, a conqueror, a scourge, a despot. Also attrib. and comb., as Tamerlane-like adj. or adv. Hence Tamerlanism nonce-wd.
a. 1579. T. Hacket, trans. Amadis of Fr., XII. 306 (Stanf.). A number of Califes, Souldans, Tamberlanes.
1593. G. Harvey, New Letter, Wks. (Grosart), I. 297. The graund Dissease … smiling at his tamberlaine contempt, Sternely struck-home the peremptory stroke.
1596. Nashe, Saffron-Walden, Wks. S iv b. Tamburlain-like, hee braues it indefinently in her behalfe.
1598. E. Gilpin, Skial. (1878), 32. It is the scourge, the Tamberlaine of vice, The three square Tyborne of impieties.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. (1903), 322. The German language … sounding better in the mouth of Tamberlin, than of a Civill man.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., II. ii. Page. … I’ll make Thy back my footstool. Sylli. Tamberlane in little!
1843. Carlyle, Misc. (1872), VII. 30. Out of it had come Napoleonisms, Tamerlanisms.
