▪ I. reamer, n.
(ˈriːmə(r))
[f. ream v.3 + -er1: see also rimer.]
An instrument used to enlarge a hole or boring.
| 1825 in Jennings Obs. Dial. W. Eng. a 1864 Gesner Coal, Petrol., etc. (1865) 28 The Reamer is used to enlarge the hole made by the Bit. 1883 Crane Smithy & Forge 167 This ‘half round’ reamer is justly a favourite with experienced workmen. |
Add: 2. U.S. A device or utensil for the extraction of juice from citrus fruit, having a central ridged dome on which a half fruit is pressed and twisted.
| 1926 Montgomery Ward Catal. 1926–27 553/1 Large reamer for oranges and lemons. 1931 E. D. Wangner Amer. Home Bk. Kitchens ii. 26 Does she have an orange or lemon reamer that screws firmly to the table? 1963 C. Adams 1001 Questions answered about Cooking i. 19 A reamer is really needed for cooking, as well as for making fresh fruit juice. 1979 Washington Post 29 Nov. e1/2 The lemon reamer and a pair of shears went..to join a collection of seldom used cookware and gadgets. 1984 Which? June 272/1 The reamer is pushed into a citrus fruit with the top cut off and either the reamer or the fruit is twisted to make the juice come out. |
▪ II. reamer, v.
(ˈriːmə(r))
[f. the n.]
trans. To use a reamer on; to clear out with a reamer.
| 1934 Webster, Reamer,..v.t., to cut with a reamer, as in enlarging diamond dies. 1935 tr. H. Mignet's Flying Flea (Air League Brit. Empire) xiii. 237 It may happen..that the platinum points..have seized up... Reamer this out, a very little, with a metal rod covered with a strip of emery cloth. 1938 J. Healey Metal Aircraft for Mechanic ii. 14 Tubular rivets are a reamer fit, so having reamered the hole to size, radius the edge of the metal slightly. |