Singler

From , from , seingler, sengler and a shortened form of .

MED Online|singlē̆r(e|adj|MED40457

Full definition of singler

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Singular.
• 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, Nomore then it lyeth in the libertye of the liuelye tre wel planted to ceaÅ¿Å¿e frome bringing forth hir frutes in hir time / except God altereth this his natural ordinaunce bi Å¿ome Å¿ingler gifte.
• 1553, Quintus Curcius, The Historie of Quintus Curcius, Conteyning the Actes of the Greate Alexander, In doing whereof there neither wanted polycie in him Å¿elf, nor yet Å¿ingler manhode in his men.
• 1579, Francesco Guicciardin, 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, But Maximilian reteyning Å¿till a Å¿ingler ambition in this iorney, would admit no companion or communitie of name or authoritie.

From en + -single + er.

Noun

1. One who singles (thin out, thins out) plants.
• 1843, Barugh Almack, On the Drill Husbandry of Turnips.—Prize Essay., 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.
• 1877, Saxon Robert de Bruce Trotter, Galloway Gossip Sixty Years Ago; Being a Series of Articles Illustrative of the Manners, Customs, and Peculiarities of the Aboriginal Picts of Galloway Chapter The Lower Orders, 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,.
• 1886, Robert Eden George Cole, A Glossary of Words used in South-West Lincolnshire. (Wapentake of Graffoe)., She’s gone singling, they can’t get singlers enew.
• 1968, The singler could be provided with means for compensating for an irregular braird.