Underkeeper

[UNDER-¹ 6 a.]

  1.  An assistant keeper of a forest, park, etc.; an under-gamekeeper.

1502.  Privy Purse Exp. Eliz. York (1830), 29. To the undrekeper of Swalowfeld for the bringing of iij bukkes.

1589.  in Essex Rev. (1906), XV. 65. [Another deer was] given away by the underkeeper to his freends.

1622.  Ld. E. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 257. The Forest of Rockingham … where Sir Francis Fane is under-keeper.

1682.  Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 58. Henry Lowin, underkeeper of New Lodge Walk within Waltham Forrest.

1826.  Scott, Woodst., xxxii. The horses are at the under-keeper’s hut.

1891.  C. James, Rom. Rigmarole, 172. One of the under-keepers carried a little bamboo arrangement.

  2.  A subordinate custodian or warder.

1598.  Florio, Sotto custede, an vnder-keeper.

1612.  Sir T. Bodley, in Macray, Ann. Bodleian (1880), 408. Y^e keeper of the vniversitie Library, with his vnderkeeper.

1637.  Documents agst. Prynne (Camden), 69. The Keeper or Under-Keeper of the Castle of Lancaster.

1679.  Hist. Jetzer, 37. He waited till the Under-keeper [of the jail] came in.

1710.  Douglas’ Æneis, Pref. Under-Keeper of the Advocates Library.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 119. Sir, said the under-keeper [of the jail], there are few men now at liberty, near so wealthy as this gentleman.