[f. prec. Cf. Du. onderlegger, G. unterleger.]
† 1. An underlying part or thing; a base or support. Obs.
In quot. 1609 applied allusively to a woman.
a. 1592. Greene & Lodge, Looking Gl., I. ii. 255. The Nutmeg … is, saith one Ballad,… an vnderlayer to the braines.
1609. Ev. Woman in Hum., I. i. Ist not some vnderlayer, some she Cammell that will beare as much of her belly, as three beastes on their backes?
1702. Boyer, Dict. Royal, II. Underlayer,… (a piece of Wood to shore up any thing,) une Etaye, un Etançon.
1775. Ash, Underlayer..., that which is laid under to bear up any thing.
† 2. A cobbler. Obs.–1
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, I. cccci. 375. How many Underlayers,… when they could not live upon their Trade, have rais’d themselves from Cobbling to Fluxing?
3. Mining. ‘A perpendicular shaft sunk to cut the lode at any required depth.’
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms.
