† 1. One who chases or drives; huntsman, driver. (Cf. CATCH v. 1.) Obs. rare.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1139. Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe, cowpled her houndez.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 57. Cahchare or dryvare, minator, abactor.
2. One who or that which catches, in various current senses of the verb.
c. 1400. Test. Love, Prol. This booke … is … so drawe togider to maken the catchers [1560 calthers] therof ben the more ready to hent sentence.
1541. Paynell, Catiline, iii. 4. A waster of his owne goodes, and a catcher of other mennes.
1553. Bale, Vocacyon, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 329. Deliuered from the snare of the catcher.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 18. The rough net is not the best catcher of burdis.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 219. The catcher now is caught.
1587. Mirr. Mag., Rudacke, v. 6. Watchers thereon … And catchers thereat.
1635. N. R., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., II. an. 14. 143. What jests lewd catchers of words made.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 137. The natives catch them with bird-lime … the catchers kill them immediately.
1872. Daily News, 13 July, 5/6. Even official scorers have to send off frequent messengers to procure the name of a new bowler or catcher.
1886. Mrs. F. H. Burnett, Little Ld. Fauntleroy, 122. The attitudes of pitcher and catcher and batter in the real game.
b. techn.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Hill & Valley, iv. 61. The roller and his catcher who stand on each side of the rolling machine.
1861. Smiles, Workmen’s Earn., 27. Rate of wages … Rollers £5 10s. 0d. … Catchers to ditto £1 10s. 0d.
† 3. One who sings in a catch. Obs. rare–1.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, IV. i. Wks. 1873, III. 419. Where be my Catchers? Come a Round.
4. Comb. catcher-warp, part of a loom.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 390/2. The catcher-warps … put in to hold down the chenille by its ‘back-bone.’
