UK terminology

English Langauge Dictionary
written by Samuel Johnson, 1805 edition

tabour, tabourer, tabrere, tabret

source

"A dictionary of the English Language in which the words are deduced from their original, and illustrated
in their different significations by examples from the best writers, to which are prefixed a history
of the language and an Englsih grammar."

Definitions

Maidmarian 'A kind of dance so called from a buffoon dressed like a man who plays tricks
to the populace.
A set of morrice dancers danced a maidmarian with a tabor and pipe' Temple

Morris dancer: 'One who dances a la moresca the moorish dance'
'There went about the country a set of morrice dancers comprised of ten men who danced
a maid marian with a tabor and pipe' Temple

Minstrel:
'A musician one who plays upon instruments

'Hark how the minstrels gin to shrill aloud
Their merry musick that resounds from far
The pipe the tabor and the trembling croud
That well agree withouten breach or jar'
Spenser

The first edition was published in 1755. A Dictionary of the English Language
is among the most influential dictionaries  in the history of the English Language.
It came about because there was dissatisfaction with the dictionaries of the period,
so in June 1746 a group of London booksellers contracted Johnson to write a dictionary. It took him nearly nine years.

top of page