Forms: 4 colector, 5 -our, 5–7 collectour, 7 Sc. -ore, 6– -or. [ME. a. AF. co(l)lectour = F. collecteur, ad. late or med.L. collector, -ōrem, agent-sb. f. colligĕre, collect-um to COLLECT. (In classical L. collector was used only in the sense ‘fellow-reader.’)]
1. One who collects or gathers together: spec. one who gathers separate literary compositions, etc., into one book, a compiler (now rare or obs.), one who collects scientific specimens, works of art, curiosities, etc.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, Pref. To plaie the part of a faithfull collector by following my copies trulie.
a. 1679. J. Alting, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxxxix. 52. Added by the Collector of the Psalms as a concluding doxology.
1759. Hurd, Chivalry & Rom., iv. (1765), III. 222 (R.). Thanks to the curiosity of certain painful collectors, this knowledge may be obtained at a cheaper rate.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VIII. 32. Every collector of butterflies can shew undescribed species.
1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1858), III. 46. Erasmus is usually considered as the first modern collector [of proverbs].
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxx. 408. The specimens [of walrus] in the museums of collectors.
b. An official who collects the tickets at a railway station.
1887. Times, 19 Sept., 10/1. She saw the excursion [train] drawn up to let the collectors take the tickets.
c. Of things: An apparatus, vessel, etc., used for collecting something (variously applied in techn. use); in Electr. and Bot. (see quots.)
1819. Pantologia, Collector, in electricity, is a small appendage to the prime conductor of the electrical machine, and generally consisting of pointed wires…. Its office is to receive the electricity … from the excited electric.
1844. Faraday, Res. Electr., I. § 86. Conductors or electric collectors of copper and lead were constructed so as to come in contact with the edge of the copper disc.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 9. 62. This mighty tub is the collector of one of the tributaries of the Mer de Glace.
1866. Treas. Bot., Collectors, the hairs found on the style of such plants as the Campanula, and which collect or brush out the pollen from the anthers.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4), 94. Models of Collectors … used in oyster culture.
1881. S. P. Thompson, Electr. & Magn., 48. Armstrong’s Hydro-Electrical Machine…. The collector consisted of a row of spikes, placed in the path of the steam jets.
2. One who collects money; an officer employed to collect or receive money due, as taxes, customs, etc. Also in U.S. an official Receiver.
c. 1380. Antecrist, in Todd, 3 Treat. Wyclif, 124. Take we heede … to bishopis, to colectors, to suffriganes.
a. 1450. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 452. Qwich messe peny & ferthing shal be resceyued be the colectour for the ȝere chosen.
1496–7. Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 13 § 1. The seid orderours and assessours … shall name Collectours for the levye of the same aide and subsidie.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1637), 437. The word passeth like a Collector from one member to another, to gather tribute for God.
1611. Bible, 1 Macc. i. 29. The king sent his chiefe collectour of tribute vnto the cities of Juba.
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2428/4. Captain Robert Bathurst, Collector, and John Gilloway, Supervisor, of Excise.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 16. The collectors of the king’s customs.
1794. Southey, Wat Tyler, I. That … the foul Collector Durst with lewd hand seize on my darling child.
1885. Act 48 Vict., c. 16 § 11. It shall not be lawful for any assessor … to be … a collector of poor rates.
† b. A parish officer to collect alms for the poor.
1557. Order of Hospitalls, D vij b. The Collectours of the parishes.
1564. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xli. 463. To every parish belongeth … two collectors, to gather for the poor.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., II. 118/1. The poores neglector (O I pardon craue) Collector I should say, may play the knaue.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 114. In aid of the churchwardens, collectors for the poor were next appointed.
1857. Toulmin Smith, Parish, 178. Few Parish Officers are of older date than Collectors.
c. An officer in some parts of England employed to make the returns of births, marriages and burials. ? Obs.
1704. Stockwith Parish Acc. For a warrant for new colectors for births, weddings, burials and window money.
3. In India, the chief administrative official of a zillah or district, whose special duty is the collection of revenue, but who also (except in Bengal) holds certain magisterial powers. (Yule.)
1772. Reg. of 14th May (Y.). The Supervisors should now be designated Collectors.
1786. Burke, W. Hastings, Wks. XI. 484. Warren Hastings … strongly objected to the appointment of any European collectors.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, II. 520. The Collector was instructed to hear and decide disputes relating to the rents and possession of land, which had previously been cognizable by the civil judge alone.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, iv. (Y.). Such a magnificent personage as the Collector of Boggleywallah.
† 4. Formerly in the University of Oxford, one of two bachelors of arts annually chosen by the proctors to perform certain academic functions: see quot. 1726. Obs.
1655. Wood, Life (1848), 61. He … appointed A. W. collector in Austins.
1706. Hearne, Collect., 9 Nov. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 305. When Bach. of Arts he was Collector.
1726. Amherst, Terræ Filius, xlii. 232. The collectors (who are two in number) are chosen out of the determining batchelors by the two proctors, each proctor chusing one; and their business is to divide the determiners into certain Classes, and to appoint to every one what school he shall dispute in. Ibid., 233. The collectors therefore, having it in their power to dispose of all the schools and days in what manner they please, are very considerable persons, and great application is made to them for gracious days and good schools.
