† hastlern.

Etymology: Apparently < an unattested Anglo-Norman *hasteler, either (a) < haste roasting spit (see hastery n.) + -eler (in e.g. pasteler pastler n. and hosteler hosteler n.), or perhaps (b) < an unattested Anglo-Norman equivalent of Middle French hastel small roasting spit (c1330 in an apparently isolated attestation, in the work translated in quot. a1475²; < haste + el -el suffix²) + -er -er suffix². A further borrowing from the same Anglo-Norman etymon is probably shown by post-classical Latin hastelarius, hastillarius turnspit or keeper of spits or spit-house (from 12th cent. in British sources).Compare also post-classical Latin hastelaria spit-house, roasting house (12th cent. in a British source), office of turnspit or keeper of a spit-house (13th cent. in British sources) and hastellator turnspit or keeper of either spits or a spit-house (14th cent. in a British source). Compare further (from continental sources) Middle French hasteur officer in charge of roasting (mid 14th cent.) and post-classical Latin hastator turnspit (13th cent.). Evidence from names. Earlier currency in Middle English may be implied by surnames, although the earliest examples are more likely to show the otherwise unattested Anglo-Norman etymon (and even later uses remain ambiguous); compare e.g. Henr. le hasteler (1190), Turstanus le Hasteler de Sarr (1206), and Joh. le Hastelyr (1280), Ric. Le Hastiller (1307). Compare also the name of Johannes atte Hastele (1379), perhaps showing a Middle English reflex of an unattested Anglo-Norman word for a (small) roasting spit (compare Middle French hastel, cited above).