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One who, or that which, retains.

The distinguishing mark worn by an armed knight, usually upon the helmet, and by his retainers and followers: Hence, in general, a badge worn by a retainer or dependent, to indicate the person or party to which he belonged; a token by which a thing may be known. Wearing the liveries and cognizance of their master. Pres…

To serve; to attend; to act as a dependent or retainer. [Obs.] Shak.

ho is sustained by another, or who relies on another for support of favor; a hanger-on; a retainer; as, a numerous train of dependents. A host of dependents on the court, suborned to play their part as witnesses. Hallam.

1. One who follows; a pursuer; an attendant; a disciple; a dependent associate; a retainer.

One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments. Can they think me . . . their fool or jester Milton. April fool, Court fool, etc. See under April, Court, etc. -- Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which bell…

es the only public room, serving as the place of gathering for the lord's family with the retainers and servants, also for cooking and eating. It was often contrasted with the bower, which was the private or sleeping apartment. Full sooty was her bower and eke her hall. Chaucer. Hence, as the entrance from outside was…

A domestic servant; a retainer. [Obs.] "False homely hewe." Chaucer.

pie made of the entrails or humbles of a deer, which was formerly served to servants and retainers at a hunting feast. See Humbles. Halliwell. Thackeray.

One wearing a jack; a horse soldier; a retainer. See 3d Jack, n. Christie . . . the laird's chief jackman. Sir W. Scott.

The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to their retainers and serving as a badge when in military service.

A domestic servant or retainer, esp. one of humble rank; one employed in low or servile offices.

ry wind and weather." Spenser. Merry dancers. See under Dancer. -- Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.] His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. Chaucer. -- To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judg. ix. 27.

The body of retainers who follow a prince or other distinguished person; a train of attendants; a suite. Others of your insolent retinue. Shak. What followers, what retinue canst thou gain Milton. To have at one's retinue, to keep or employ as a retainer; to retain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

In the former feudal system of Japan, the class or a member of the class, of military retainers of the daimios, constituting the gentry or lesser nobility. They possessed power of life and death over the commoners, and wore two swords as their distinguishing mark. Their special rights and privileges were abolished with…

A servant; a retainer. [Obs.] A yeman hadde he and servants no mo. Chaucer.