This new print publication provides a unique resource for scholars researching linguistic and literary history, the history of the language, social history, and more. Read more and see a sample page.
(
f
r
n
(r)) [f. FOREIGN a. + -ER1.]
1. a. A person born in a foreign country; one from abroad or of another nation; an alien.
In ordinary use chiefly applied to those who speak a foreign language as their native tongue; thus in England the term is not commonly understood to include Americans.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton)
IV. xxxviii. (1859) 64 They were straunge foreyners, nought of his propre peple.
1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 302 Whome that foreyner & straunger Pylate wolde oftentymes..haue delyuered.
1561 T. NORTON Calvin's Inst. IV. 138, I am here a foriner and stranger, as all my fathers were.
1637 Decree Star Chamb. §12 in
Milton's Areop. (Arb.) 15 That no..forreigner..be suffered to bring in..any booke or bookes printed beyond the seas.
1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3916/3 Having reviewed all the Horse and Foot under his Command, as well English as Foreigners.
1835 THIRLWALL Greece I. vii. 268 Besides the Dorians, there were foreigners of other nations.
b. transf. Some thing produced or brought from abroad; esp. a foreign vessel.
1677 PLOT Oxfordsh. 148 Beside what I have seen amongst forreigners [plants] in Gardens.
1716 ADDISON Freeholder No. 22
3 The lemons, the brandy, the sugar, and the nutmeg, were all foreigners.
1823 SCORESBY Jrnl. Whale Fishery 68 Nine or ten ships were assembled..none of them followed us, excepting a foreigner.
Ibid. 419 The black rat and the common mouse are enumerated..but both these are foreigners imported by the shipping.
1891 Daily News 21 Nov. 5/3 The failure of the English walnut crop has enhanced the price of ‘foreigners’.
c. pl. Foreign stocks and shares.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 14 Feb. 9/1 Foreigners are quiet. 1904 Ibid. 10 May 11/1 The Account Changes in Foreigners. 1964 Financ. Times 3 Mar. 19/2 Among Foreigners, Baltic bonds attracted buying interest.
2. One of another county, parish, etc.; a stranger, outsider. In early use esp. one not a member of any particular guild, a non-freeman. Now dial.
14.. Customs of Malton in
Surtees Misc. (1890) 59 Yffe any man..als wele a foraner as Burges, be sommonyd to any cowrte.
c1460 in
Eng. Gilds (1870) 317 Ye shall not..counsell any forynar to dwell w
tyn
e franschys of this craft.
1565 in Picton
L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 75 No foreigner, as men of Bolton, Blackburne or any other places.
1676 DEGGE Parson's Counsellor II. v. 166 There is no difference between the Case of a Parishioner and a Forrainer, where [etc.].
1700 Grassmens' Acc. (Surtees) 96 If any Forraner or Freeborn come.
1855 MRS. GASKELL North & S. xvii, ‘Yo're just a foreigner, and nothing more’, said he, contemptuously. ‘Much yo know about it.’
1875 Sussex Gloss.,
Foreigner, a stranger, a person who comes from any other county but Sussex.
1966 O. N
ORTON School of Liars viii. 129, I know very little about him. He's a foreigner in the village.
1968 M. ALLINGHAM Cargo of Eagles xiv. 157 He was a poor silly foreigner from Kent.
1968 J. DRUMMOND Gantry Episode ii. 23, I want the lot of you foreigners out of Gantry... I don't like interference.
3. fig. A stranger, outsider; a little-known person; rarely, a person other than oneself (cf. FOREIGN a. 2). Obs.
1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. I. (1594) 75 He, that would not be a stranger to the universe, an alien to felicity, and a foreiner to himself.
1597 HOOKER Eccl. Pol. V. lxviii. §1 Forreiners and strangers from the Church of God.
1621 BURTON Anat. Mel. III. iii.
I. i. (1651) 591 Jealousie is..a fear or doubt, lest any forrainer should participate or share with him in his love.
1641 DENHAM Sophy v. 52 Joy is such a forrainer, So meere a stranger to my thoughts, I know Not how to entertaine him.
ADDITIONS SERIES 1993
foreigner, n.
Add: 4. Something done or made at work by an employee purely for his or her own private benefit; a piece of paid work not declared to the relevant authorities. Freq. in phr. to do a foreigner. slang (orig. Mil.).
1943 HUNT &
PRINGLE Service Slang 33 Such articles [as models of aircraft], made in the ‘firm's’ time and with the ‘Company's’ material, are called ‘foreigners’, as they are outside the normal work done by the employee or airman or soldier.
1974 P. WRIGHT Lang. Brit. Industry iii. 34 The term, now rapidly gaining ground, e.g. among decorators,..
doing a foreigner..means working privately, unknown to the Inland Revenue, to supplement one's regular wage.
1982 HEDGES & B
EYNON Born to Work 75/2 Some
people
skilled men mostly..have ‘foreigners’ (private jobs done in company time) off to a fine art and make them to order.
1983 A. B
LEASDALE Shop thy Neighbour xi. 111 We're both gettin' followed, for all we know, we're both goin' t'get prosecuted f'doin' a foreigner while we're on the dole.
This message is confidential. You should not copy it or disclose its contents to anyone. You may use and apply the information for the intended purpose only. OUP does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are those of the author only and not of OUP. If this email has come to you in error, please delete it, along with any attachments. Please note that OUP may intercept incoming and outgoing email communications.
No comments:
Post a Comment