dialler, dialer
(ˈdaɪələ(r))
[f. dial n.1 + -er1.]
1. One who makes a survey of mines by the aid of a ‘dial’ or compass.
| 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict. R iij, This Roofing..if done by a skillful Dialer, and by a Dial that he is acquainted with..is certain enough. 1778 W. Pryce Min. Cornub. 204 In the same manner the Dialler takes his second measurement. |
2. A device for dialling telephone-numbers automatically.
| 1969 Daily Tel. 3 Feb. 4/5 The first batch of ‘card diallers’—numbers prestored on cards which automatically dial a number when ‘punched’—is also due for field trials shortly. Ibid., The automatic diallers are expected to benefit businesses mainly with a large volume of regular calls. 1971 Sci. Amer. June 90/3 As a prototype for a bubble mass-memory we have designed and built a ‘telephone repertory dialer’, a device for storing 50 to 100 frequently called telephone numbers. |