[Agent-n. f. TEST v.2 or sb.1: see -ER1.] One who tests or proves, or whose business is to test the quality or condition of anything; a device for testing. In quot. 1697, (?) a supporter of religious or political tests.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 128. Those wary testers, that like not to be cheated.
1697. Isabel Wright, in Collect. Dying Test. (1806), 42. Testers, Banders, Bloodshedders, Consenters to Blood.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3818/4. The Queen has been pleased to appoint … Hopton Hains Esq., Weigher and Tester of the Mint.
1882. Ogilvie (Annandale), Tester, one who tests [etc.]; as, a good tester.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl., Steam Gage Tester, an instrument to test the accuracy of the steam gage.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 14 Jan., 8/1. A train … stops; a tester is going round with his hammer striking the wheels. Ibid. (1910), 8 March, 5/2. A device which commends itself to … owners of motor-cars generally is the Acer brake horse-power tester.
