slasher
(ˈslæʃə(r))
[f. slash v.1 + -er1.]
1. a. One who slashes; a fighter, a bully; a slashing fellow.
| 1559 Mirr. Mag., The Blacksmith xxxii, With slashers, slaues and snuffers so falshod is in price, The simple faith is deadly sinne, and vertue counted vice. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 57, I..behold the glorious picture of that most-threatning Slassher. 1611 Cotgr., Chamailleur, a slasher,..swash-buckler. 1785 Grose Dict. Vulgar T., Slasher, a bullying riotous fellow. 1830 Lytton P. Clifford vi, The worn-out acerbity of an old slasher [= reviewer]. 1836 in C. K. Sharpe Corr. (1888) II. 495 Mrs. Villiers, in galloping to cover.., was pitched off, and frighten'd even the hard-hearted Melton Slashers. 1859 Slang Dict. 95 Slasher, a powerful roisterer, or pugilist. 1885 J. Runciman Skippers & Shellbacks 291 We'll make a slasher of him in a little bit. |
b. pl. (See quot. 1802.)
| 1802 James Milit. Dict., Slashers, a nickname which was given during the American war to the 28th regiment of foot. 1848 Thackeray Let. 28 July, The other regiment in garrison at Canterbury, the Slashers if you please. 1898 Times 10 Jan. 11/6 When my original regiment, the 28th Gloucestershire, the gallant ‘Slashers’, arrived home from India in 1865. |
2. a. A sword; a weapon for slashing.
| 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxiii, ‘Had he no arms?’ asked the Justice. ‘Ay, ay, they are never without barkers and slashers.’ 1901 Munsey's Mag. XXIV. 445/2 The creese.. makes a frightful wound, whether used as a slasher or a sticker. |
b. A billhook.
| 1858 J. A. Warder Hedges & Evergreens 98 The slasher with a wooden handle set at an angle with the edge of the blade. 1882 Hay Brighter Brit. I. 186 A billhook, or slasher,..for the purpose of clearing all the undergrowth. 1883 Pall Mall G. 25 Oct. 10/3 One..was armed with a ‘slasher’, used for cutting hedges. 1916 J. B. Cooper Coo-oo-ee xi. 147 Cathead ferns and bracken..soon sprang up if he neglected to use the ‘slasher’, a large broad half-moon knife fixed to a stout ash handle. 1947 J. Bertram Shadow of War 70 Native convicts kept the lawns trimmed with formidable slashers. |
c. An implement used in brick-making to detect stones in the clay.
| 1889 C. T. Davis Bricks & Tiles v. 129 The hand-temperer then cuts through the small pile of clay with a tool termed a ‘slasher’. |
d. A form of circular saw used to cut logs into predetermined lengths, usu. having several blades mounted on the same shaft.
| 1892 P. Benjamin Mod. Mechanism 777 A power-feed slab slasher, which differs greatly from the ordinary type of slabbing machines..has but one saw. 1915 Saw in Hist. iii. 38 Then there are Slashers—Circular Saws used in a gang, and averaging four or more to each set. 1947 N. C. Brown Lumber ii. 108 The slasher consists of a set of circular cut-off saws, generally arranged 49{pp} apart on a single shaft, to cut slabs, edgings, and other sawmill refuse into suitable lengths for lath stock, broomhandle stock, fuelwood, or other purposes. 1963 R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking v. 111 It will be assumed that they [sc. the logs] have already arrived at the slasher. |
3. A severe criticism or review.
| 1849 Ainsworth's Mag. Dec. 535 Writing squibs or slashers for electioneering purposes. 1858 Thackeray Let. 27 Dec., A request for a notice might bring a slasher down upon you. |
4. A form of sizing-machine for yarn, so called on account of its rapid working.
| 1862 Catal. Brit. Exhib., Brit. Div. I. §1515 Sizing Machine, commonly called Slasher, for sizing or dressing, and afterwards drying the warp preparatory to being woven. Ibid., Slasher-sizing machine. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2199/1 In the slasher..the yarn runs through boiling size. |
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Add: 5. attrib. Designating cinematographic films which depict the activities of a vicious attacker whose victims are slashed with a blade, as slasher film, slasher movie. In early use, designating ‘snuff movies’ (see snuff n.1 7).
| 1975 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ontario) 2 Oct. 3/6 New York City police detective Joseph Horman said..that the 8-millimetre, eight-reel films called ‘snuff’ or ‘slasher’ movies had been in tightly controlled distribution. 1975 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 20 Nov. 7/4 Police in New York are investigating the circulation of eight such snuff or slasher films. 1982 Forbes (N.Y.) 27 Sept. 176/2 Paramount's low-budget slasher film Friday the 13th Part 3 in ‘super 3-d’ was roundly thrashed by critics (‘Trash’, said Newsweek). 1989 Empire Sept. 97/4 A silly psychic slasher movie with photographer..haunted by visions of the murders committed. |