provant meaning (obsolete): definition, quotations

provant

adj

Obsolete Provided for common or general use, as in an army; hence, common in quality, i.e. inferior.

a poor provant rapier1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act III, scene i:

noun

Obsolete provisions; food

His manner is to put three or foure ſtones into a ſpoone, and ſo putting them into his mouth together, ſvvallovvs them all dovvn one after another; […] [H]aving the advantage of this ſtrange vvay of alimony, he ſold his allovvance of provant at great rates; […]1653, John Bulwer, “Scene XVIII. Strange Inventions of Certain Nations in Ordering Their Armes, Hands and Nailes.”, in Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d; or, The Artificial Changling […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Hunt, →OCLC, pages 307–308:
When I want prouant wᵗʰ: Humfrie I sup, & when benighted, I repose in Powles wᵗʰ: waking soules, Yet neuer am affrighted. When I lack food, I go without it, and when benighted, I repose in St. Paul’s (graveyard) with ghosts, Yet am never scared.c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)

1 more example

One pease was a soldier's provant a whole day.c. 1612–1615?, John Fletcher, Francis Beaumont, revised by Philip Massinger, “Loves Cure or, The Martial Maid”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene i:

verb

Obsolete To supply with provisions; to provide for.

...should not only supply her inhabitants with plentiful purveyance of sustenance, but provant and victual moreover this monstrous army of strangers […]1599, Thomas Nash, Nashes Lenten Stuffe: