sumpter

English

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

sumpter (plural sumpters)

(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 606515358, [Act II, scene ii]:
  Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter / To this detested groom.
(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 55195564:
  the ancient vse of somers and sumpter horsses is in maner vtterlie relinquished
(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 3083972, Act V, scene i:
  You should have had a Sumpter , tho' 'thad cost me
  The laying on myself

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