1893 text
Bewpers is the old name for bunting.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
Bewpers is the old name for bunting.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
Log in to post an annotation.
If you don't have an account, then register here.
Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.
6 Annotations
First Reading
Pauline • Link
from L&M's Large Glossary
v. 289 bunting, fabic used for flags; origin unknown (?Beaupreau, Fr. town) (elsewhere 'blufers' and other variants) 1592.
Cum grano salis • Link
OED has no entry for Bewper[s]
flag ...bunting\
a. 'An open-made worsted stuff, used for making flags' (Ure Dict. Arts); also in general, a flag, or flags collectively.
644 H. MANWAYRING Sea-mans Dict. s.v. Flaggs, At sea to lower or strike ones Flagg in fight is a token of yeelding, but otherwise of great obedience and respect.
Cum grano salis • Link
Errata: OED beaupers, bewpers
A fabric, apparently linen; used for flags.
1592 Wills & Inv. N.C. II. (1860) 211 Lawne cufes 3s.,peace of bowpres 16s. 1660 Act 12 Chas. II, iv. Sched., Beaupers the piece jl. vs.
1664 PEPYS Diary (1879) III. 56 Among the Linnen Wholesale Drapers..to see what can be done with them for the supplying our want of Bewpers for flaggs. Ibid. 16 June, Supplying us with bewpers from Norwich.
1720 Stow's Surv. (1754) II. V. xviii. 382/2 Bolters and Bewpers the dozen pieces 1d.
WinchesterWing • Link
This Life, which seems so fair,
Is like a bubble blown up in the air
By sporting children's breath,
Who chase it everywhere
Second Reading
Bill • Link
Beaupers, bewpers. Obs. Also bowpros. [Deriv. unknown: it has been referred to Beaupreau, a town of France with manufactures of linen and woolen.] A fabric, apparently linen; used for flags.
---A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. J.A.H. Murray, 1887. [the first edition of the OED]
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
Much discussion about the Union Jack, insignias, etc. at Sunday 13 May 1660, when they were making the Naseby pretty before bringing Charles II home:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…