breather
(ˈbriːðə(r))
[f. breathe v. + -er1.]
1. He who, or that which, breathes; one who lives, a living being, creature, animal.
| c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxxxi, When all the breathers of this world are dead. 1606 ― Ant. & Cl. iii. iii. 24 She shewes a body, rather then a life, A Statue, then a Breather. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 135 Those reasonless breathers that live under us. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. cxviii. 6 Breathers of an ampler day. |
† 2. He who, or that which, supplies breath; fig. inspirer, animater.
| 1615 Crooke Body of Man 354 Calleth it [the midriff] the breather or bellowes of the lower belly. a 1711 Norris (J.) The breather of all life does now expire. |
3. a. A spell of exercise taken to stimulate the breathing, or to try the wind; cf. breath 8. Also, that which puts out of breath, or exhausts.
| a 1836 Colman Poor Gent. iv. 11 (L.) Here we are at last—that hill's a breather. 1861 G. J. Whyte-Melville Mkt. Harb. 229 They gave the hapless ‘Marathon’ a spin with ‘Chance’, as a mere breather. 1884 Cyclist 13 Feb. 249/1 Cyclists are looking forward to being able to take a ‘breather’ during the present week. |
b. A short rest in which to recover breath; a breathing-space. (Cf. breathe v. 13.)
| 1901 Daily Chron. 15 Oct. 5/4 But the horses have had their breather, and we must on. 1902 Ibid. 21 May 3/3 A field battery on the left had a hot time of it just at this moment, and drew out of action for a breather quite close to our guns. 1940 L. A. G. Strong Sun on Water 178 He worked fast for an hour and a half, then sat back for a breather. 1959 Daily Tel. 9 Nov. 1/1 They stopped for a ‘breather’ on the hard shoulder, which is out of bounds, except for vehicles in distress. |
4. One who breathes forth, speaks, proclaims.
| 1382 Wyclif Acts ix. 1 Saul, ȝit brethere, or blowere, of manassis and betyng. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iv. 31 For my Authority beares of a credent bulke, That no particular scandall once can touch But it confounds the breather. 1612 T. James Jesuits' Downf. 8 These are the very first brokers, breathers and brochers of contention abroad. 1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 14 Dec. 787/2 This Breather of Eloquence could not say a few decent..words. |
5. In full, breather pipe: a vent in the crankcase, etc., of an internal-combustion engine, for the release of excessive pressure or gases.
| 1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris ii. vi. 145 He lifted the hood and removed the cap from the breather-pipe. 1935 Times 22 Oct. 9/1 Here also is the oil filler with a breather. 1962 Which? (Car Suppl.) Oct. 136/1 Cleaning the crankcase breather. |