caster
(ˈkɑːstə(r), -æ-)
[f. cast v. + -er1.]
1. a. One who casts, in various senses of the verb.
| 1382 Wyclif Prov. xxiii. 7 In licnesse of a deuynour and of a fals castere. 1552 Huloet, Brayder or caster in teeth. 1553 Act 1 Mary Sess. 3 viii. §1 Forcers of Wools, Casters of Wools, and Sorters of Wools. 1580 Baret Alv. C 171 A caster of lottes, sortitor. 1598 Florio, Abbachiere, caster of accountes. 1611 Cotgr., Mathematicien, a caster of Natiuities. 1623 Bingham Xenophon 117 The caster of the first stone. 1669 G. Etherege Love in Tub ii. iii, The Caster wins if he fling above Ten with Doublets upon three dice. a 1719 Addison (J.), Set up for a caster of fortunate figures. 1840 Thackeray Catherine iii, Three to two against the caster [of dice]. 1856 R. Vaughan Mystics (1860) II. viii. iii. 49 Casters of horoscopes and makers of cunning toys. 1885 Harper's Mag. 776/1 The caster stands on a platform. 1887 Athenæum 414 Artificial casters of the evil eye. |
b. also with adverb following.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 16703 (Trin.) Heil þou temple caster doun. 1601 Deacon & Walker Spirits and Dev. To Rdr. 16 A coniurour or caster foorth of spirits and diuels. 1617 S. Collins Def. Bp. Ely 304 They are made to be casters on of the perfume. 1836 E. Howard R. Reefer xxvi, The caster-up of sums. |
2. spec. a. One who casts metal; a founder.
| 1535 Coverdale Jer. x. 14 Confunded be all casters of ymages. 1662 Gerbier Princ. 31 Architect, Sculptor, and Caster in Brass. 1865 Mr. Cowper in Parlt. 12 May, The model of the first lion is completed, and now in the hands of the casters. 1884 G. M. Fenn Sweet Mace III. vi. 84 Woe to the caster of cannon. |
b. One employed in shovelling or ‘casting’ coals from the keels into the ships (on the Wear).
| 1793 Ship Owner's Manual (1795) 141 Many seamen, keelmen, casters. 1815 J. Sykes Local Records (1832–57) A number of misguided persons, principally keelmen and casters on the River Wear. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Emp. (1854) I. 601 Keel-men, coal-boatmen, casters, and trimmers. 1861 Act 24 & 25 Vict. c. §40 Whosoever shall..prevent any seaman, keelman, or caster from working at his lawful trade. 1882 J. Green Tales & Ballads of Wearside (1885) 229 The first coal staiths..erected at Sunderland..1815; but the keelmen and casters..pulled them to the ground. 1888 Sunderland Daily Echo 22 Mar. 2/5 Casters and trimmers..their work was to cast the coals from the keels into the ships. |
c. One who takes or makes a model by running some liquid or forcing a plastic substance into a mould.
| 1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §105 Potters; ware-makers, casters and finishers. Ibid. §414 Caster, takes plaster cast of foot where any special form of boot is required, as in case of malformation, etc. |
d. (See quot.)
| 1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §049 Caster, examines coals sent from screens, and removes splints, i.e. slaty coal, in readiness for sale as house coal. |
e. Typogr. = casting-machine (b) s.v. casting vbl. n. 4.
| 1902 Census Bull. (U.S.) No. 216 59/2 The caster and setter resembles a sewing machine, being but little larger. 1921 Caster attendant [see casting-machine s.v. casting vbl. n. 4]. 1973 S. Jennett Making of Bks. (ed. 5) iv. 77 The formative parts of the caster are the matrix case, the mould, and the wedges controlling the mould blade, and thus the width of the mould opening. |
3. Cant. ‘A cloke’ (Harman). ? Obs.
| 1567 Harman Caveat 77 For want of their Casters and Togemans. 1609 Dekker Lanthorne & Candle-L. Wks. 1885 III. 199. 1640 W. M. Wandering Jew (1857) 22 A poore Alehouse is your Inne..a Plimouth cloake your Caster. 1690 in B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew. 1725 in New Cant. Dict. |
4. colloq. [f. cast ppl. a. + -er1, as in deader.] = cast one.
| 1859 Lang Wand. India 144 The horse which drew the buggy had been a caster..a horse considered no longer fit for the cavalry or horse artillery, and sold by public auction, after being branded with the letter R on the near shoulder. |
5. See castor.