Also 2–6 breker, (5–6 Sc. -ar). [f. BREAK v. + -ER1.] He who or that which breaks (in various senses of verb.).
1. One who breaks, crushes or destroys; so breaker off, etc.; and with defining sb. as HOUSE-BREAKER, SHIP-BREAKER, etc., q.v.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 83. Ne mihte nawiht brekere bon icloped.
c. 1535. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1040. The peas … is … breker of strife.
1563. Homilies, II. Fasting, II. (1859), 288. A breaker of his fast.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 14. They become eyther breakers or banckerers.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Cypress Grove, Wks. 118. Death … is the reasonless breaker off of all actions.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes, iv. 193. A Breaker of Idols.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 143. Horn-handed breakers of the glebe.
b. spec. One who cards wool. (cf. BREAK v. 2 c.)
1514. Act 6 Hen. VIII., ix. § 1. The Breaker or Kerber to deliver again … the same Wooll so broken and kembed.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 156. Three weavers and spoolers, two breakers, [etc.].
c. One who makes known (tidings, etc.).
1864. Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 594. A breaker of the bitter news from home.
2. One who transgresses or violates a law, oath, convention, etc.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. xiii. 7. It bifelle the breker of lawe for to die.
1483. Cath. Angl., 42. A Breker or tryspaser; preuaricator, transgressor.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xvi. 38. A breaker of wedlocke and a murthurer.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 132. He [Falstaff] was neuer yet a Breaker of Prouerbs: He will giue the diuell his due.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 350. Constables … may apprehend all breakers of the peace.
1864. H. Spencer, Illustr. Univ. Progr., 61. Some courageous breaker of conventions.
b. In comb. with defining sb., as COVENANT-, LAW-, SABBATH-BREAKER, etc., q.v.
3. One who subdues, tames or trains. Also breaker in, and in comb., as HORSE-BREAKER.
1552. Huloet, Breaker of horse, or other beast brutysh.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, I. 23. The breaker of mad horses—the tamer of wild Highlandmen.
1834. Fraser’s Mag., IX. 93. A breaker-in of dogs.
1860. Encycl. Brit., XX. 220. Whenever the dog in advance points, it is the breaker’s duty to make all the rest that acknowledge the scent to point.
4. That which breaks; as a break-water (obs.), a harrow (see quot. 1799). In many comb., as COAL-, ICE-, ROCK-BREAKER, q.v.
1661. Hickeringill, Jamaica, 47. There is no landing … by reason of the fury of the waves (not pacified by any Breakers).
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 96. Some [harrows] are made large enough to be a draught for two horses, which are distinguished by the name of Breakers.
b. spec. The name of various machines for crushing the dried stems of flax or hemp, and for performing the first operation in carding cotton, etc.
1817. Parl. Deb., 1059. The stems of flax and hemp … are passed through two machines, the first called a breaker, the second a rubber.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 972. After passing through the first or ‘breaker card,’ the cotton is put through the ‘finisher.’
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 274/2. The slivers produced by the breakers, as the first set of engines is called.
5. A heavy ocean-wave that breaks violently into foam against a rocky coast or in passing over reefs or shallows. Breakers ahead! ‘the common pass-word to warn the officer of broken water in the direction of the course.’
1684. I. Mather, Remark. Provid. (1856), 43. If the Providence of God had not by the breakers given them timely warning, they had been dashed in pieces.
1740. Woodroofe, in Hanway, Trav. (1762), I. IV. lix. 275. When there is any sea, the breakers are visible.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xiv. (1852), 305. The great wave broke in a fearful line of white breakers.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 51. Along that breaker-beaten coast. Ibid., 549. Till hard upon the cry of ‘breakers’ came The crash of ruin.
1879. Beerbohm, Patagonia, 3. Suddenly we heard a shout of ‘Breakers ahead!’ and every one turned pale.
† 6. A kind of firework. Obs.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., III. 118/1. Rackets, Crackers, Breakers and such like, giues blowes and reports without number.
1635. J. Babington, Pyrotechn., xxxvi. 43. Your reports or breakers for this work shall be made as follows.
