extractor
(ɛkˈstræktə(r))
Also 7–9 extracter.
[f. as prec. + -or.]
1. One who extracts.
| 1611 Cotgr., Spargirique..an Alchymist, or extractor of quintessences. 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶79 The juice..is drawn out by the Extractors, who..resolve the dreggs..of the Parenchyma. 1755 Johnson, Extractor, the person or instrument by which any thing is extracted. 1828 Blackw. Mag. XXIV. 198 Healer of diseases, and extractor of money. 1868 Morn. Star 16 June, Mr. Abrams..begged to say that his client was not a corn-cutter, but a corn-extractor. |
2. a. One who selects and copies out quotations.
| 1813 Edin. Rev. XXI. 267 A judicious extractor..might accommodate both classes of readers. 1884 Blackw. Mag. June 824/1 The extractor who looks for a fitting pause in the spate of Mr. Ruskin's eloquence. |
b. spec. in Sc. Law. (See quot. 1861.)
| 1687 Act Sederunt 23 Feb., The Lords do extend the priviledges..to..four extracters in each of the three clarks offices of the Session. 1751 Ibid. 4 Jan., The Lords..do..prohibit..all agents from being extractors, and all extractors from agenting. 1810 in Hansard Parl. Deb. June, [Mr. Thomas Scott] was appointed to the office of an Extractor. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 374/2 Extractor..the official person by whom the extract of a decree or other judicial proceeding is prepared and authenticated. 1868 [see extractable]. |
3. An instrument for drawing or pulling out anything; esp. that part of a breech-loading gun which removes the cartridge. Also, an instrument for extracting honey from the combs. Cf. honey-extractor s.v. honey n. 7.
| 1753 N. Torriano Midwifry 18 They never turned children..their only Resource was to Knives, Extractors, etc. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (ed. 9) 168, 1 setter. 2 needles. 1 extractor. 1871 Daily News 11 Apr. 6 The loaded man opens the breech of his rifle, uses the extracter, takes out the cartridge. 1875 Encycl. Brit. III. 501/1 To a German apiarian we are indebted for the invention of a machine called the honey-extractor... There are various patterns of the machine, but the principle of all may be said to be the same, that of centrifugal force. 1885 J. J. Manley Brit. Almanac Comp. 19 Extractors, comb foundations and other appliances used in bee-keeping. 1886 F. G. Jenyns Bk. about Bees 150 When the bee-keeper wishes to obtain the greatest possible quantity of honey he..uses to a great extent the machine called an extractor. 1938–9 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 991 All types of Hives, Extractors, etc. |
† 4. A solvent used to extract (juices, etc.). Obs.
| 1678 Salmon Lond. Disp. 852/1 The strength of the Extracter or dissolvent. |
5. attrib., as extractor fan, a ventilation fan in a window, outside wall, etc., which replaces stale air indoors with fresh air.
| c 1945 Design at Home (C.E.M.A.) 13/1 Extractor fan to remove cooking odours and steam. 1958 Listener 23 Oct. 671/1 You can fit extractor fans in your windows. 1967 ‘M. Hunter’ Cambridgeshire Disaster iv. 26 He..noted the meal half prepared and the whir of the extractor fan. |
Hence exˈtractorship, the office of an extractor (in sense 2 b).
| 1837 Lockhart Scott xx, Mr. Thomas Scott's appointment to this Extractorship. 1877 Geneal. Mem. Family Sir W. Scott 61 Sir Walter secured for him an extractorship in the General Register House. |