canvasser
(ˈkænvəsə(r))
[f. canvass v. + -er1.]
1. a. One who canvasses: see canvass v. 1–5.
| 1599 Minsheu Sp. Dict., Manteador, a canuasser or tosser in a blanket or sheet. 1628 Sir R. Le Grys tr. Barclay's Argenis 254 These busie Canuassers of causes. 1648 W. Clement Relat. & Observ. 3 Old Canvasers of Factions. 1799 Sheridan Pizarro iii. iii, Who seeks alone for living homage stands a mean canvasser in her temple's porch. |
b. One who canvasses electors for votes.
| a 1797 Burke (R.) As real publick counsellors, not as the canvassers at a perpetual election. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 458 As a canvasser he was irresistible. 1869 Daily News 25 Jan., It has become practicable for an authorised canvasser to vitiate an election by excessive zeal. |
c. One who solicits custom, or goes about soliciting orders, esp. in the book-trade.
| 1865 Knight Pass. Working Life III. 18 Book-hawkers known as canvassers. 1879 Print. Trades Jrnl. xxviii. 4 One of the greatest nuisances of the day is the canvasser. |
d. U.S. ‘One who examines the returns of votes for a public office’ (Webster); a scrutineer.
| 1792 in Sparks Life & Writ. G. Morris (1832) III. 38 A majority of the canvassers rejected the votes of three counties. 1904 Newark Even. News 25 Nov. 5 Governor Murphy has appointed..as the State Board of Canvassers... The board will..officially determine the number of votes which were cast for the different candidates. |