sumpter

English

Etymology

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. (obsolete) The driver of a packhorse.
   • 1605: Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter / To this detested groom. — William Shakespeare, King Lear, II.ii
2. A packhorse; a beast of burden.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holinshed to this entry?)

3. (obsolete) A pack; a burden.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Beaumont and Fletcher to this entry?)

Anagrams

• restump, stumper