subs. phr. (old).—A servant of an inn of court: his office is to announce dinner.—GROSE (1785).
1654. Witts Recreation [NARES]. On T. H. the PANNIER MAN of the Temple [Title].
1712. Great Britans Honycombe, MSS. [NARES]. The PANYER MAN, whose office is to lay the cloths on the tables in the hall, set saltsellers, cut bred, whet the knifes, and wait on the gentlemen, and fetch them beer and other necessaries when they are in commons in term time. He also blows the great horn between twelve and one of the clock at noon at most of the corners in the Temple three times presently one after another to call the gentlemen that are in commons to dinner.
