n. [ So called fr. L. teste, abl. of testis a witness, because this was formerly the initial word in the clause. ] (Law)
n. [ OE. testere a headpiece, helmet, OF. testiere, F. têtière a head covering, fr. OF. teste the head, F. tête, fr. L. testa an earthen pot, the skull. See Test a cupel, and cf. Testière. ]
The shields bright, testers, and trappures. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
No testers to the bed, and the saddles and portmanteaus heaped on me to keep off the cold. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ For testern, teston, fr. F. teston, fr. OF. teste the head, the head of the king being impressed upon the coin. See Tester a covering, and cf. Testone, Testoon. ] An old French silver coin, originally of the value of about eighteen pence, subsequently reduced to ninepence, and later to sixpence, sterling. Hence, in modern English slang, a sixpence; -- often contracted to
n. A sixpence; a tester. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To present with a tester. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n., pl. of Teste, or of Testis. [ 1913 Webster ]