duster
(ˈdʌstə(r))
[f. dust v.1 or n.1 + -er1.]
1. a. A cloth for removing dust from a surface; a dust-brush. Cf. feather-duster (feather n. 19).
| 1576 Turberv. Venerie 30 A litele brush or duster to rubbe and duste his houndes. 1611 Cotgr., Vistempenard, a Duster made of a Fox-taile fastened vnto a staffe. a 1748 Watts Educ. Children & Youth xi, We were..well instructed in the conduct of the broom and the duster. 1862 Lytton Str. Story I. 163 The housemaid was forbidden to enter it with broom or duster. 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. 104/2 Duster, 8-inch handle, all dark down, 7 × 9 inch, double faced brush. 1939–40 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 110/3 Household brushes... Turnover Library Duster, White Lily bristles. |
b. A machine for removing dust (by rubbing, etc.) in various mechanical processes.
2. a. A contrivance for removing dust by sifting; a sieve. b. An apparatus for sifting dry poisons upon plants to kill insects.
| 1667 Hist. Gunpowder in Sprat Hist. R. Soc. (1702) 283 (T.) The lower sieve is called the dry duster, and retains the small corns..and lets fall the dust into the bin. |
3. A person who dusts, or wipes off dust.
| 1850 Hastings Life of J. Wilson ii. ii. 255 A cobweb here and a little dust there which have escaped the vigilance of the duster. 1888 Pall Mall G. 17 Sept. 6/2 Employed as an assistant ‘duster’ for the stalls at the Italian Exhibition. |
4. a. A light cloak or wrap worn to keep off dust; = dust-cloak (see dust n.1 8 e). Chiefly U.S.
| 1864 Sala in Daily Tel. 13 Oct., The citizen in the straw hat and the ‘duster’ or overcoat of yellow Spanish linen. 1870 Lowell Lett. (1894) II. xi. 77 Rose discovered your thin coat, which she called a ‘duster’. 1883 Grant White W. Adams 114 Whether it was an overcoat that he was wearing as a duster, or a duster doing service as an overcoat. 1962 ‘S. Ransome’ Without Trace ix. 98 A dark-haired woman..was wearing a duster while hanging the family wash on a line. |
b. In full duster coat: a woman's loose light casual full-length coat.
| 1959 W. Camp Ruling Passion xviii. 154, I adore that duster coat, but it's at least a couple of inches longer than your frock. 1960 Guardian 25 June 10/3 The Princess wore a royal blue duster coat over a..flowered frock. |
5. Naval slang. An ensign or flag; the red duster (see quot. 1929).
| 1904 Eastern Morn. News 27 June, A regatta..of the duster boats for the championship of the Humber. 1918 Punch 27 Mar. 206/1 She's dipped her dingy duster in the spray of all the seas. 1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 111 Red Duster, the Red Ensign. |