searcher

3 definitions found

searcher - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Searcher \Search"er\, n. [Cf. OF. cercheor inspector.]
     One who, or that which, searches or examines; a seeker; an
     inquirer; an examiner; a trier. Specifically:
     (a) Formerly, an officer in London appointed to examine the
         bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death.
         --Graunt.
     (b) An officer of the customs whose business it is to search
         ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.
     (c) An inspector of leather. [Prov. Eng.]
     (d) (Gun.) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon,
         to detect cavities.
     (e) An implement for sampling butter; a butter trier.
     (j) (Med.) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the
         bladder, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

searcher - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  searcher
      n 1: someone making a search or inquiry; "they are seekers after
           truth" [syn: seeker, searcher, quester]
      2: a customs official whose job is to search baggage or goods or
         vehicles for contraband or dutiable items
      3: large metallic blue-green beetle that preys on caterpillars;
         found in North America [syn: searcher, searcher beetle,
         Calosoma scrutator]

searcher - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  SEARCHER, Eng. law. An officer of the customs, whose duty it is to examine 
  and search all ships outward bound, to ascertain whether they have any 
  prohibited or uncustomed goods on board.