[a. L. compressor, agent-noun from comprimĕre to COMPRESS.] One who or that which compresses: in technical uses.
a. Anat. A muscle which compresses a part, (Frequent in the L. names of individual muscles.)
[1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Compressor naris, in anatomy, a name given … to one of the muscles of the face.]
1839. Todd, Cycl. Anat., II. 223/1. Its action [i.e., that of the muscle] … when convex, makes it a compressor.
b. Surg. An instrument for compressing a part of the body, as a nerve, artery, duct, etc.; also a tourniquet.
1870. T. Holmes, Surg. (ed. 2), III. 489. The instruments required for the compression treatment [of Aneurism] are one or two compressors and a weight encased in leather.
c. A (surgical or hydropathic) compress.
1851. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 153. I resolutely abstain from pills—continuing to wear my compressor.
d. An instrument for compressing objects in microscopical investigations; a compressorium.
1881. Carpenter, Microscope (ed. 6), 150. In all these Compressors, it is easy to vary the thickness of the glass within convenient limits.
e. Naut. An iron lever by means of which the chain-cable as it runs out can be jammed to the chain-pipe and checked or stopped.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 55. In letting go the anchor, when it is necessary to check the cables … the compressors … will control their descent.
1878. Scribn. Mag., XV. 666/2. An effort was made to man the starboard compressor so as to check the other anchor when let go.
f. Gun. A mechanism for pressing a gun-carriage to its slide or platform during the recoil.
1859. F. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (1862), 119. When the compressors are used, the running-up is by jerks.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Compressor, a mechanism generally adopted afloat for facilitating the working of the large guns recently introduced; the gun-carriage is thus compressed to its slide or platform during the recoil, and set free again by the turn of a handle for running up.
g. A machine for compressing air, esp. for use as a motive power. More fully air-compressor.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 602/2. The Mount Cenis Tunnel air-compressors … The compressors operate by applying the living force of a large column of water descending in an inclined tube, to drive a body of confined air into a receiver.
1879. Daily News, 16 Dec., 5/8. A compressor pump, such as is used for compressing air for torpedoes.
1882. Standard, 27 Dec., 7/1. The compressed air is conveyed from the compressors down the … shaft to the boring machine by … pipes.
