liquidator
(ˈlɪkwɪdeɪtə(r))
[f. liquidate v. + -or. Cf. F. liquidateur.]
a. A person appointed to conduct the winding-up of a company.
| 1858 Ld. St. Leonards Handy-Bk. Prop. Law xxii. 170 All executors and administrators, liquidators under the Joint Stock Companies Act. 1870 Daily News 23 Apr., The official liquidator..had done all that he could to get in and administer the assets of the company. 1965 Seldon & Pennance Everyman's Dict. Econ. 260 The Official Receiver is appointed provisional liquidator, and his appointment may be confirmed or he may be replaced at the first meeting of the creditors. 1971 Daily Tel. 9 Feb. 15/5 The creditors' call for a provisional liquidator for Mineral Securities..followed on intense activity..with leading Australian international financiers. 1971 Times 10 Dec. 8/6 The appointment of a provisional liquidator and special manager was essential in order to collect those balances and get the other assets in. |
b. liquidators of vessels (U.S.): a class of officers of the New York custom-house.
| 1884 R. Wheatley in Harper's Mag. June 58/1. |
c. A person who implements a policy of liquidation. Cf. liquidate v. 7.
| 1949 [see grave-digger 3]. 1963 Listener 24 Jan. 171/1 The psychotic actions of totalitarian liquidators. 1975 J. Gardner Killer for Song ii. 16 Special Security had employed him as an agent—a liquidating agent, designed, quite literally, to cut down security risks. They had even called him the Liquidator. |
Hence ˈliquidatorship, the office of liquidator.
| 1869 Daily News 5 Nov., That..the official liquidator should be allowed to retire from the provisional liquidatorship. |