[f. BROWSE v. + -ER1.]
† 1. ? One who feeds the deer (in winter-time). Cf. BROWSE v. 3. Obs.
1550. in Harcourt Papers (1876), [At a survey taken 10th April 4th year of Edward VI.] the jury did then present that the Lords of Stanton Harcourt have used and ought to find four Browsers in Woodstock Park in winter time, when any snow shall happen to fall, and tarry, lye, and abide be the space of two days, and so to feed the said Browsers there browsing soe long as the snow doth lye, every browser to have to his lodging every night one billet of wood the length of his ax-helve.
2. An animal that browses.
1845. Miall, in Nonconf., V. 312. The stupidest of the browsers of the field.
1870. Yeats, Nat. Hist. Comm., 122. We fell a forest, and the timid browsers lose their shelter and food.