tapster

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English tappestere, from Old English tæppestre (“barmaid”), equivalent to tap +‎ -ster.

Noun

tapster (plural tapsters)

1. (archaic) One whose business is to tap or draw ale or other liquor.

   Synonym: barkeep

   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

     […] A tapster is a good trade: an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving-man a fresh tapster.

   • 1609, Thomas Dekker, “Lanthorne and Candle-light. Or, The Bell-man’s Second Nights-walke. […] The Second Edition, […]: Jacke in a Boxe. […]”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Non-dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker. […] (The Huth Library), volume III, London, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire: […] [Hazell, Watson, & Viney] for private circulation only, published 1885, →OCLC, pages 292–293:

     There is a Twin-brother to this Falſe-galloper, and hee cheats Inne-keepers onely, or their Tapſters, by learning firſt what Country-men they are, and of what kindred: and then bringing counterfeit letters of commendations from ſuch an Vncle, or ſuch a Coozen (wherein is requeſted, that the Bearer thereof may bee vſed kindely) […]

   • 1742, Henry Fielding, “The Escape of the Thief. […]”, in The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I, page 100:

     About the ſecond VVatch, a general Complaint of Drovvth vvas made both by the Priſoner and his Keepers. Among vvhom it vvas at last agreed, that the Conſtable ſhould remain on Duty, and the young Fellovv call up the Tapſter; in which Diſpoſition the young Fellovv apprehended not the leaſt Danger, as the Conſtable vvas vvell armed, and could beſides eaſily ſummon him back to his Aſſiſtance, if the Priſoner made the leaſt Attempt to gain his Liberty.

   • 1878, John Payne, Introduction, in François Villon, Poems, translated by John Payne, New York: Boni & Liveright, c. 1918, p. 33,^[1]

     […] in a twinkling the accomplished sharper changes the pitchers and pretending to examine the contents, asks the tapster what kind of wine he has given him […]

Related terms

• tapper
• tapstress

Further reading

• “tapster”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “tapster”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• PERSTAT, Prattes, p'taters, partest, patters, perstat, spatter, trap set, trapset

Middle English

Noun

tapster

1. Alternative form of tappestere
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 240-42:

     He knew the tavernes wel in every toun / And everich hostiler and tappestere / Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)