slater en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈsleɪtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈsleɪtɚ/ (General-American)
Etymology
From Middle English sclater, equivalent to slate + -er.
Meanings
- One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.
- (Australia, New-Zealand, Scotland) Any terrestrial isopod crustacean of the genus Porcellio and allied genera; a woodlouse.
-
A harsh critic; one who slates or denigrates something.
Plain speaking, now and then, is very necessary. The author will call the critic a “blackguard slater," of course, but he need not be a blackguard. Ferocity of language only hurts his effect.
1901, The Critic, volume 39, page 562:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| slaters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
butcher boy · roly-poly · sai bug · sowbug · woodlouse · saisai gnat
Translations (6)
fi liuskekiven asentaja (one who lays slate) · cy töwr (one who lays slate) · de Schieferdecker (one who lays slate) · fr couvreur (one who lays slate) · lb Leeëndecker (one who lays slate) · es pizarrero (one who lays slate)