Also -or (in senses 3, 4 b). [f. CONVEY v.1 + -ER.]
1. One that conveys, carries, or transmits.
1513–4. Act 5 Hen. VIII., c. 3. Preamb., The utter undoyng of … merchauntes conveyers of the said Clothes.
1548. Hall, Chron., 132 b. The conveyers of the hulkes knewe not the very channell.
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., xiii. 141. The conveyers of waters of these times content themselves even with one inch [of descent] in 600 foot.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 100. The Church may be unfailing conveiers of [Scripture] down to posterity without being infallible Interpreters thereof.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, III. 201. Being but the humble Conveyer of her Bounty to them!
1829. The Bengallee, 344. The messenger and conveyer of these … writings and their replies.
† 2. A nimble or light-fingered thief: see CONVEY v. 6 b. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., IV. i. 317. Oh good: conuey: Conueyers are you all, That rise thus nimbly by a true Kings fall.
3. One who transfers property.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xli. (1739), 66. Where Lands were conveyed by writing or act of the party … the Will of the Conveyor should be strictly observed.
1670. Moral State Eng., 61. Contrary to the intent of the Conveyer.
4. A thing that conveys, or transmits.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. II. ii. (1651), 378. Whey, which is the common convayer of all such things as purge black choler.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. i. § 14. Making the senses the only certain conveyers of the truth of things to the mind.
1842–3. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 6), 123. The dense matter is … the conveyer of the undulations.
b. spec. Applied to various mechanical contrivances, e.g., for conveying grain, chaff, flour, etc., in a mill, timber to the wheel in a saw-mill, hay or straw to another part of a barn, etc. Also conveyor.
1880. Chamber’s Encycl., s.v. Barrel-Making, [The staves] are then laid upon an endless conveyer, which carries them against two circular saws.
1883. Harper’s Mag., June, 75/2. (Amer. Flour-mills) It empties itself into conveyers, consisting of small buckets travelling upon an endless belt.
1887. Engineering, 29 July, 131. The anti-friction grain conveyor … bids fair to come into extensive use.
