ambry

English

Alternative forms

almery, aumbrie, aumbry, ambery

Etymology

From Middle English almerie, from Anglo-Norman almarie, aumer, etc., from Old French almarie, from Latin armārium. Doublet of armarium and armoire.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæm.bɹi/

Noun

ambry (plural ambries)

(now historical, rare) A bookcase; a library or archive. [from 13^thc.]
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVII:
  Whanne Bors had told hym of the aduentures of the Sancgreal suche as had befalle hym / and his thre felawes that was launcelot / Percyual / Galahad / & hym self There Launcelot told the aduentures of the Sancgreal / that he had sene / Alle this was made in grete bookes / and put vp in almeryes at Salysbury
  (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 2006, Ernest A Savage, Old English Libraries, page 97:
  This collection, then, was the college reference library; corresponding with the common aumbry of the monastery, but also indicative of the principle of all library organisation […].
(obsolete) A storehouse, especially a niche or recess in a wall used for storage.
- 1767, Patrick Sanderson, The antiquities of the abbey or cathedral church of Durham. Also a particular description of the county palatine of Durham, compiled from the best authorities and original manuscripts., Durham: printed by J. White and T. Saint, for P. Sanderson, page 75:
  In the closets or almeries on each side of the Frater-house door in the Cloisters, Towels were kept white and clean to dry their Hands upon.
- 1767, Patrick Sanderson, The antiquities of the abbey or cathedral church of Durham. Also a particular description of the county palatine of Durham, compiled from the best authorities and original manuscripts., Durham: printed by J. White and T. Saint, for P. Sanderson, page 72:
  Within the Frater-house Door, on the Left Hand at entering, is a strong Almery in the Wall, wherein a great Mazer, called the Grace Cup, stood, which every Day served the Monks after grace, to drink out of round the Table; which cup was finely edged about with Silver, and double gilt.
(now rare) A pantry, or place to store food. [from 14^thc.]
- 2004, Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Encyclopedia of Kitchen History, page 128:
  Used by a wholesaler or retailer as a wine cabinet, the ambry cupboard suited the needs of a neighborhood inn or small-scale private kitchen.
(architecture) A cupboard or storage area in a church to hold books, communion vessels, vestments, etc.; an armarium. [from 16^thc.]
- 1787, William Hutchinson, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, volume II, page 64:
  At the end of the bench adjoining to the Frater-house door, was a fine almery fixed to the wall, and another on the other side of the door […].
- 1983, Dennis G. Michno, A Priest's Handbook, Morehouse 1998, p.75:
  Nothing else should be kept in the tabernacle or aumbry where the Sacrament is reserved, but a small container of water and a cloth may be kept on the shelf for cleansing one's fingers.
- 2003, Wm. B. Eerdmans, translating Erwin Fahlbusch et al., The Encylopedia of Christianity, vol.III, p.321:
  Portions of the consecrated bread from the Eucharist were stored or reserved in an ambry or tabernacle to be taken to the sick.

Synonyms

(armarium): armarium
(cupboard): cupboard, pantry

Translations

historical wardrobe or chest

Hungarian: almárium (hu)
Polish: almaria f, armaria f

storehouse

pantry

church cupboard or storage area

Anagrams

Byram, Mabry, barmy