[f. BREED v. + -ER1.]
1. That which breeds or produces offspring.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 63. Among’st the fairest breeders of our clime. Ibid. (1593), 3 Hen. VI., II. i. 42. You loue the Breeder better then the Male.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb. (1623), 136. Not good to chuse a crowing hen, for they are neither good breeders nor good layers.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (1856), 1. Hunge tuppes are … to bee kept for breeders.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., II. s.v. Pigeon, The Pigeon called the Leghorn is … an excellent Breeder.
1727. Swift, Modest Prop., Wks. 1755, II. II. 60. There may be about two hundred thousand couple, whose wives are breeders.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., iii. (1878), 51. The elephant is reckoned the slowest breeder of all known animals.
b. That which produces or originates; the author, source or cause.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, III. 5. Breders, norishers, & comforters of all lyuyng thynges.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1860), 20. Neither the breeders nor fauorites of discord.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 9. That evil should alwayes flow from evil in a chain of breeders.
† c. A plant used for propagation. d. A gardeners’ name for an immature, self-colored, seedling tulip.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 531. As for another [shoot], springing from a yeare-old branch, it is left alwaies for a breeder.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 27. Tulips without blackish bottome are noe good breeders of various coloured flowers.
1846. Mrs. Loudon, Ladies’ Comp. Flower-Gard., 303. Breeders … are seedling Tulips before they have shown any variety of colour.
2. One who breeds cattle or other animals.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. x. Virgile leaueth farre behynde hym all breders, hakneymen, and skosers.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., i. Euery owner, grasier, fermour, breder, drouer, and brogger of this realme.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4342/3. [To] bring a Certificate from the Breeder, of his Mare’s Age.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. 18. He was a breeder of cattle.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric., II. 265.
fig. 1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 28. Let Lent well kept offend not thee, for March and Aprill breeders bee.
† b. A grower or producer. Obs.
1547. Act 1 Edw. VI., i. Pream., The said Breeders of the said Wools.
† 3. One who brings up; a trainer, instructor. Obs.
1571. Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), 72. Tyme was whan Italie and Rome haue bene … the best breeders and bringers vp of the worthiest men.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxi. 296. Of world-admired Drake … And his braue breeder Hawkins.
