piercer
(ˈpɪəsə(r))
Forms: 5–6 persour, percer, (5 persor, -ore, -owre, -owyr, -ure, -ere, parsoure, perescher), 6 perser, -ar, parser, pearser, pierser, 6–7 pearcer, 7– piercer.
[Orig. a. Anglo-F. perceour, persour = F. perceur, f. percer to pierce: see -er1 2.]
1. gen. One who or that which pierces. Also fig.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 357 This myȝhty Hercules was the tamer of the worlde, the victor of þe Amazones, the perescher of Ynde [Higden Indiæ penetrator]. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 578 Vnneth any creature..could holde either hand close, or purse shut, such a strong percer is monie. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xxvii. (1590) 223 b, Basilius,..not the sharpest pearcer into masked minds. 1777 Pennant Zool. (ed. 4) IV. 128 Teredo. Piercer..Penetrates into the stoutest oak plant, and effects their destruction. 1838 Dickens O. Twist xix, ‘It must be a piercer, if it finds its way through your heart’, said Mr. Sikes. |
b. colloq. or slang. Applied to an eye having a keen, piercing, or penetrating glance.
| 1752 Foote Taste i. Wks. 1799 I. 11 She had but one eye, indeed, but that was a piercer. ? 1782 H. Walpole Lett., to Mason (1846) VI. 164 How much more execution a fine woman could do with two pair of piercers! 1834 Blackw. Mag. XXXV. 743 Her eyes were piercers. |
2. An instrument or tool for piercing or boring holes, as an auger, awl, gimlet, stiletto, etc.
| 1404 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 399, j persour. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 395/1 Persowre (or wymbyl), terebellum. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. vi. 120 With this axe that I beare, This percer, and this nawger,..I have wonne my meate. 1533 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For persars iijd. ob. 1541 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 687 Such tooles as persers, augers, sawes, and suche other. 1573–80 Baret Alv. P 213 Pearcer; 310 Pierser. 1602 R. T. 5 Godlie Serm. 185 Except the Lord boare our eares with the piercer of his spirit. 1616 Surflet & Markh. Country Farme 610 Hee must pearce it..with a pearcer. 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 19 The Sand will set upon your Piercer or Augre. 1886 C. Scott Sheep-Farming 48 The man..provided with a ‘gavelock’ or ‘piercer’—a strong iron bar rounded and sharpened at the heavy end—makes holes at intervals of eight or ten feet for the reception of the stakes. |
b. A bodily organ (in an insect, or the like) used in piercing, as a sting or an ovipositor.
| 1691 Ray Creation ii. (1692) 78 The hollow Instrument (terebra, he calls it, and we may English it piercer) wherewith many Flies are provided. 1861 Hulme tr. Moquin-Tandon ii. vi. i. 294 Rostrum [of the Head-louse]..c, piercer, formed of four capillary threads. |
3. A person employed or skilled in perforated wood or metal work.
| 1736 Byrom Jrnl. & Lit. Rem. (1856) II. i. 43 Went to Mr. Joyce's the piercer..he had made a specimen or two of etching and piercing. 1898 Daily Chron. 24 Sept. 10/6 Saw Piercer wanted, one used to leaf work. 1902 Ibid. 20 Feb. 8/7 Silver Piercer.—Young lady requires Situation. |
4. attrib. or Comb. (in sense 2), as piercer-bit, piercer-blade, piercer-iron.
| 1421–2 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 228 Et in persouryrnes et ij fenestris vitreis pro parvo celario de Wytton, xivd. 1530 Palsgr. 253/2 Percerblade, estoc. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 155 They Pierce holes, with a Piercer-Bit. |