[f. STAGGER v. + -ER1.]
1. One who staggers. lit. and fig.
1552. Huloet, Staggerer, titubator.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 17. These staggerers … do call Gods providens and his regiment over all into question.
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Jacula Prudentum, 517. The Lame goes as farre as your staggerer.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 92. Let me abhorre to play the timeserver,… staggerer, and revolter from Gods way.
2. Something that causes one to stagger; fig. a disconcerting incident, an argument admitting of no reply, etc.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, xlvii. That broadside was a staggerer.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., v. 98. This was something of a staggerer to Susan and her father.
1874. Hardy, Far fr. Mad. Crowd, v. He knew to a hair’s breadth the rate of trotting back from the ewes’ tails that each call involved, if a staggerer with the sheep-crook was to be escaped.
1909. Truth, Christmas No. 22/2. Still staggerer followed unceasing on staggerer.
