English

Alternative forms

• almery, aumbrie, aumbry, ambery

Noun

ambry ‎(plural ambries)

1. (now historical, rare) A bookcase; a library or archive. [from 13^thc.]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter 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

   • 2006, Ernest A Savage, Old English Libraries, p.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 […].

2. (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.

3. (now rare) A pantry, or place to store food. [from 14^thc.]
   • 2004, Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Encyclopedia of Kitchen History, p.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.

4. (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, vol.II, p.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

Anagrams

• barmy