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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

searcher en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈsɜː(ɹ)t͡ʃə(ɹ)/ (UK)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈsɝt͡ʃɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English serchour, sercher, from Old French cercheor; equivalent to search + -er.

Meanings

  1. One who searches.
    • When he had repoſed four years and four months in the boſom of care, rocked in the cradle of proſperity, he was brought forth, according to the cuſtom of true believers, and committed to the charge of moralifts of high fame, poliſhers of noble manners, and ſearchers of true knowledge, that they might cultivate his heaven-born genius, and teach him with dignity to rule that world which he was born to command[.] 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 4:
  2. (UK, historical) An officer in London appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death.
    • The Searchers hereupon (who are ancient Matrons, sworn to their Office) repair to the place where the dead Corps lies 1662-1663, John Graunt, Natural and Political Observations Made Upon the Bills of Mortality:
  3. (UK, historical) An officer who apprehended idlers on the street during church hours in Scotland.
  4. A customs officer responsible for searching ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.
  5. (UK, obsolete) An inspector of leather.
    • THE OATH OF SEARCHERS AND SEALERS OF LETHER ^([sic]). You & eu'y of you shall well & truly view & search all & eu'y tanned hide skinne or Leather which shall be brought to any faire or m'kett within the p'cincts of the towne of Louth […] 1891, Louth: Old Corporation Records, page 52:
    • Means adopted by tanners to evade the searcher's and sealer's inspection 1837, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Papers: 1780-1849 (volume 52, part 2, page 136)
    • 62. Leather Searcher and Sealer, functions of. The offices of Leather Searcher and Sealer are united in one person. He examines and seals all hides and leather, receiving some small fees of the parties for so doing, but has no salary or perquisites from the corporation. 1835 March 30, Commissioners on Municipal Corporations in England and Wales, “Report on the Borough of Scarborough, (Yorkshire.)”, in Municipal Corporations, (England and Wales.): Appendix to the First Report of the Commissioners., Part III. Northern and North-Midland Circuits., London: House of Commons, page 1719:
    • In 1362 William Drydale was the elected ale-taster, a manorial office like that of the leather searcher or pinder. 2011, George Redmonds, Turi King, David Hey, Surnames, DNA, and Family History, page 31:
  6. (historical) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon, to detect cavities in its surface.
  7. An implement for sampling butter.
  8. A sieve or strainer.
  9. (historical) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the bladder, etc.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
searchers Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

spring searcher · searchership · soul-searcher · caterpillar searcher · fiery searcher

Relateds

searcheress

Translations (18)

izh etsijä (One who searches) · el αναζητητής (One who searches) · mt fittiex (One who searches) · enm serchour (One who searches) · de Suchender (One who searches) · eo serĉisto (One who searches) · nl zoeker (One who searches) · ca cercador (One who searches) · mr शोधणारी (One who searches) · mr शोधक (One who searches) · hi खोजकर्ता (One who searches) · it cercatore (One who searches) · hi अन्वेषक (One who searches) · es buscador (One who searches) · mr शोधणारा (One who searches) · pt buscador (One who searches) · mi kairapu (One who searches) · fr chercheur (One who searches)