WELL (or CLEAN) TIMBERED, adj. phr. (old).—(a) Well made; and (b) WELL-HUNG (q.v.): TIMBER = strength, might. Also, HOW’S HE TIMBERED? = how’s he built? NOT TIMBERED UP TO MY WEIGHT = not my style.
14[?]. Torrent of Portugal [HALLIWELL], 2447.
| Sith thy dwelling shalle be here, | |
| That thou woldist my son lere, | |
| Hys TYMBER ffor to asay. |
1594. SHAKESPEARE, Love’s Labour’s Lost, v. 2. I think Hector was not so CLEAN TIMBERED.
1605. JONSON, Volpone, or the Fox, iv. 2. That fine WELL-TIMBERED gallant.
1637. DRAYTON, Poems, 299.
| Alanson, a fine TIMB’RED man, and tall, | |
| Yet wants the shape thou art adorn’d withall: | |
| Vandome good carriage, and a pleasing eye, | |
| Yet hath not Suffolk’s princely majesty. |
