[a. L. ēlevātor, f. ēlevā-re to ELEVATE.] One who or that which elevates.
1. Anat. a. A muscle that raises or moves a limb or an organ.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. vii. 196. Being destitute of any motion, they conferre no reliefe unto the Agents or Elevators.
1746. Parsons, Human Phys., i. 17. The Elevator arises tendinous and fleshy from the Edge of the Foramen lacerum.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. ii. § 1. 148. The Elevators of the lower Jaw.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, 13. The main elevator of the humerus and the wing.
b. In insects, one of the two flat joints of the maxillary or labial feelers.
1826. Kirby & Spence, Entomol., III. 448. Thus in the hive bee and the humble bee the labials including the two flat joints or elevators have four joints.
2. Surg. ‘An instrument for raising any depressed portions of bone, particularly of the skull. Also, an instrument used in Dentistry for the removal of stumps of teeth’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
3. a. A machine used for raising corn or flour to an upper story. b. U.S. A large building (containing one or more of these machines) used for the storage of grain. c. A machine used for raising hay or straw to the top of the stack. Also, an appendage to a thrashing machine. d. A lift, hoist, ascending chamber. Also attrib.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 100. These elevators consist of a chain of buckets, or concave vessels, like large tea-cups, fixed at proper distances upon a leathern band, which goes round two wheels.
1862. Trollope, N. Amer., I. 248. An elevator is as ugly a monster as has been yet produced.
1862. J. Wilson, Farming, 161. A larger set of elevators is usually employed to carry up the roughs to the feeding board [in a thrashing machine].
1879. Jefferies, Wild Life in S. Co., 114. The new-fangled elevator carries up the hay by machinery from the waggon to the top.
1883. E. E. Hale, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 275/1. He did not trust the elevator, but almost flew down the stairs.
1884. Howells, ibid. Dec., 118/1. The Elevator Boy, pulling at the rope: [says] ‘We’re not there, yet.’
1884. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 10 Oct. A. H. Laughlin … has bought the store building … near the elevator.
1887. Contemp. Rev., May, 699. Extensive elevator Companies.
