† 1. One who loads. Obs.
1483. Cath. Angl., 59. A Chargere, onerator, sarcinator.
† 2. One who makes a charge, an accuser. Obs.
1513–75. Diurn. Occurr. (1833), 18. In presence of the kingis grace and chargeris, viz. bischopis, preistis, blak freris and grey.
1700. in Col. Rec. Penn., I. 602. Hee desired ye charge might be exhibited agt him in writing under ye charger’s hand.
3. Sc. Law. One in whose favor a decree suspended is pronounced.
1747. Act 20 Geo. II., c. 50 § 13. No Superior shall be obliged to give Obedience to such Charge, unless the Charger at the same Time shall pay or tender to him such Fees or Casualties.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 482. A charger, who … wants dispatch, may … apply to the Court.
4. One who has a charge on an estate or revenue.
1869. Act 32 & 33 Vict., c. 116 § 5. The charger shall … pay or tender to such superior such duties or casualties as he is by law entitled to receive.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 14 Oct., 6/2. As long as he remained a charger on the estate.
5. A horse ridden in charging the enemy; that ridden by an officer in the field or in action.
[1712. Motteux, Don Quix., IV. 1248. [The Knight of the White Moon] presently mounted his Charging-Horse, and leaving the City that very Day, posted homewards. (Some later edd. have charger.)]
1762. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, I. viii. That elegant charger who excelled him as much … as his rider Timothy was outshone by his … master.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1846), VI. 25. The chargers saddled … were embarked in the flat palanders; and the knights stood by the side of their horses.
1801. Campbell, Hohenlinden, iii. Furious every charger neighed.
1808. Scott, Marm., V. xii. They reached the hall-door and the charger stood near.
1818. Todd, Charger, the horse of a military officer; ‘a charging horse.’
1877. Field Exerc. Infantry, 413. The embarkation of the Officers’ chargers.
6. An appliance for charging.
a. 1711. Milit. & Sea Dict. (ed. 4), Chargers are either Bandaleers or Flasks that contain the Powder.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., Charge, a device for dropping into the bore of a fowling-piece from a shot-belt or pouch a gaged quantity of shot.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Charger (Cornw.), an implement for charging horizontal bore-holes for blasting.
