compressor
(kəmˈprɛsə(r))
[a. L. compressor, agent-noun from comprimĕre to compress.]
One who or that which compresses: in technical uses.
1. a. Anat. A muscle which compresses a part. (Frequent in the L. names of individual muscles.)
| [1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Compressor naris, in anatomy, a name given..to one of the muscles of the face.] 1839 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 223/1 Its action [i.e. that of the muscle]..when convex, makes it a compressor. |
b. Surg. An instrument for compressing a part of the body, as a nerve, artery, duct, etc.; also a tourniquet.
| 1870 T. Holmes Surg. (ed. 2) III. 489 The instruments required for the compression-treatment [of Aneurism] are one or two compressors and a weight encased in leather. |
c. A (surgical or hydropathic) compress.
| 1851 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 153, I resolutely abstain from pills—continuing to wear my compressor. |
d. An instrument for compressing objects in microscopical investigations; a compressorium.
| 1881 Carpenter Microscope (ed. 6) 150 In all these Compressors, it is easy to vary the thickness of the glass within convenient limits. |
e. Naut. An iron lever by means of which the chain-cable as it runs out can be jammed to the chain-pipe and checked or stopped.
| c 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 55 In letting go the anchor, when it is necessary to check the cables..the compressors..will control their descent. 1878 Scribn. Mag. XV. 666/2 An effort was made to man the starboard compressor so as to check the other anchor when let go. |
f. Gun. A mechanism for pressing a gun-carriage to its slide or platform during the recoil.
| 1859 F. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 119 When the compressors are used, the running-up is by jerks. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Compressor, a mechanism generally adopted afloat for facilitating the working of the large guns recently introduced; the gun-carriage is thus compressed to its slide or platform during the recoil, and set free again by the turn of a handle for running up. |
g. A machine for compressing air, esp. for use as a motive power. More fully air-compressor.
| 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 602/2 The Mount Cenis Tunnel air-compressors..The compressors operate by applying the living force of a large column of water descending in an inclined tube, to drive a body of confined air into a receiver. 1879 Daily News 16 Dec. 5/8 A compressor pump, such as is used for compressing air for torpedoes. 1882 Standard 27 Dec. 7/1 The compressed air is conveyed from the compressors down the..shaft to the boring machine by..pipes. |
2. One who compresses, spec. the attendant or operator of a compressing machine. Also compressor man.
| 1920 Glasgow Herald 3 July 8 John K. Robertson, compressor,..allowed three gallons of oil to escape from a compressed-air engine. 1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §088 Compressor man;..operates, by hand, machine which compresses charge of partially dried coal into a solid cake [etc.] Ibid. §148 Compressor, carbonic acid gas. |