sumpter

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French sommetier (“pack-horse driver”), from Late Latin *sagmatarius, from Latin sagma, from Ancient Greek σάγμα (ságma, “pack-saddle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsʌmptə/

Noun

sumpter (plural sumpters)

1. (historical) The driver of a packhorse.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter / To this detested groom.

2. (historical) A packhorse; a beast of burden.
   • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC:

     the ancient vse of somers and sumpter horsses is in maner vtterlie relinquished

   • 2008, Michael Jecks, The Prophecy of Death:

     The Bishop of Orange was watching carefully as men stored his papers in a cart, the King's steward and Despenser's bottler were stalking about among the wagons and sumpter horses ensuring that all was packed, while clerks of the various departments of state were hurrying about, squeaking at men who looked as though they might drop a chest or misstore a box in the wrong wagon, and generally getting in the way of everyone else while making themselves thoroughly miserable at the same time.

3. (obsolete) A pack; a burden.
   • 1626 February 13 (licensing date), Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Noble Gentleman”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act V, scene i:

     You should have had a Sumpter , tho' 'thad cost me
     The laying on myself

See also

• Sumpter in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Anagrams

• restump, stumper