ambry

noun

1. (historical, rare)A bookcase; a library or archive.

   “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”

   “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.

   “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.”

   “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. (archaic)A pantry, or place to store food.

   “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. A cupboard or storage area in a church to hold books, communion vessels, vestments, etc.; an armarium.

   “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[…].”

   “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.”

   “Portions of the consecrated bread from the Eucharist were stored or reserved in an ambry or tabernacle to be taken to the sick.”