singler meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

singler

adj

Etymology From Middle English singler, from Old French sangler, seingler, sengler (“single, individual”) and a shortened form of Middle English singuler.

Obsolete Singular.

Nomore then it lyeth in the libertye of the liuelye tre wel planted to ceaſſe frome bringing forth hir frutes in hir time / except God altereth this his natural ordinaunce bi ſome ſingler gifte.[1531], George Ioye, The Letters Which Iohan Ashwel Priour of Newnham Abbey Besids Bedforde / Sente Secretely to the Bishope of Lyncolne in the Yeare of our Lorde M.D.xxvij. Where in the Sayde Priour Accuseth George Ioye That Tyme Beinge Felawe of Peter College in Cambridge / of Fower Opiniõs: with the Answer of the Sayed George vn to the Same Opinions, [Antwerp]: [M. de Keyser]:
In doing whereof there neither wanted polycie in him ſelf, nor yet ſingler manhode in his men.1553, Quintus Curcius, translated by Iohn Brende, The Historie of Quintus Curcius, Conteyning the Actes of the Greate Alexander, London: Rycharde Tottell:

1 more example

But Maximilian reteyning ſtill a ſingler ambition in this iorney, would admit no companion or communitie of name or authoritie[…].1579, [Francesco] Guicciardin, translated by Geffray Fenton, The Historie of Guicciardin, Conteining the VVarres of Italie and Other Partes, Continued for Many Yeares vnder Sundry Kings and Princes, together with the Variations and Accidents of the Same: And Also the Argumentes, vvith a Table at Large Expressing the Principall Matters Through the VVhole Historie, London: Thomas Vautroullier, pages 386–387:

singler

noun

Etymology From single + -er.

One who singles (thins out) plants.

Where the young turnip plants are very thin in the rows they may easily and readily be singled by the hoe alone; but, where turnips are very thick in the rows, it is desirable, if not actually necessary, that singlers should be employed.1843, Barugh Almack, “On the Drill Husbandry of Turnips.—Prize Essay.”, in The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, volume the fourth, London: John Murray, section V (The Manner of performing the Hoeing), page 69:
Their backs were to him, and their heads close to the ground, and of course out of sight, so that they looked like a lot of immense bee-skeps, covered with coarse bags,[…]‘Goodness! gracious! father! what sort of creatures are those!’ ‘Singlers, my boy, Singlers,’ was the reply.[…]‘They are the working people, you know,’ says the father, ‘and they’re always grumbling; they want more money, better houses, shorter hours, and all sorts of things that poor people have no right to think of.’ ‘What shocking creatures!’ replied the son,[…].1877, Saxon [pseudonym; Robert de Bruce Trotter], “The Lower Orders”, in Galloway Gossip Sixty Years Ago; Being a Series of Articles Illustrative of the Manners, Customs, and Peculiarities of the Aboriginal Picts of Galloway, Choppington, Northumberland: Robert Trotter; Bedlington: George Richardson, pages 332–333:

2 more examples

She’s gone singling, they can’t get singlers enew.1886, R[obert] E[den] G[eorge] Cole, “SINGLER, s.”, in A Glossary of Words used in South-West Lincolnshire. (Wapentake of Graffoe)., London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., page 131:
The singler could be provided with means for compensating for an irregular braird.1968, Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, page 5: