Also 5–6 -our. [a. L. explōrātor f. explōrāre: see EXPLORE. Cf. F. explorateur.] One who or that which explores.
† 1. One who is employed to collect information, esp. with regard to an enemy, or an enemy’s country; a scout, a spy. Obs.
c. 1450. Burgh, Secrees, 2452. Expert in language have explo[ra]tourys … to knowe alle ther labourys.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 2483. Two exploratours … that broght the grape clustre to desert fro the lande of promissionne.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. 104. Vespasian … was advertist by his exploratouris, that Caratak … had renewit his army.
1616. Rich Cabinet, 68 b. Thus did the explorators of the land of Canaan terrifie the Iewes.
1685. Cotton, trans. Montaigne, III. 370. Thou art the Explorator without Knowledge, the Magistrate without Jurisdiction; and after all, the Fool in the Play.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
† b. transf. One who searches diligently. Obs.
1583. Exec. for Treason (1675), 38. These Seminaries, secrete Wanderers, and Explorators in the dark.
1681. Hallywell, Melampr., 92. This envious Explorator or searcher for faults [Satan].
2. One who explores (a country) for the purpose of discovery.
1844. N. Brit. Rev., I. 145. America has sent forth to the Holy Land its best explorators.
3. † a. An apparatus invented by Beccaria for ascertaining the electrical condition of the atmosphere (Craig, 1847). b. (See quot.) c. Electric explorator = ‘electrical explorer.’
b. 1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., Chest explorator, an exploring needle or trochar used for introduction between the ribs to diagnose the presence of empyema.
