[f. CARE sb. + TAKER, f. TAKE v.] One who takes care of a thing, place or person; one put in charge of anything.
1858. M. Porteous, Souter Johnny, 17. The souter’s wife … was servant to Gilbert Brown … and … acted as nurse and care-taker to Agnes his daughter.
1859. W. G. Wills, Life’s Foreshad., II. xvii. 205. The caretaker of the house met them, hat in hand.
1869. Daily News, 19 July, 5/1. The votes of Parliament to the caretakers of the parks.
b. esp. in Ireland, a person put in charge of a farm from which the tenant has been evicted.
1868. Times, 24 June, 12/3. (Irish Correspt.) Three companions, who assaulted the caretaker.
1887. Illust. Lond. News, 29 Jan., 113. The evicted tenants were readmitted as caretakers.
