One who or that which ‘kills’ time (see KILL v. 5): said of a person, an amusement, etc. So Time-killing sb. and a.
1751. Richardson, in Johnson’s Rambler, No. 97, ¶ 24. Another seasonable relief to those modern time-killers.
1825. Blackw. Mag., XVII. 28. Much resorted to by … antiquity hunters, view-hunters, Time-killers.
1850. Preston Chron., 23 March, 6/2. Their districts are so large, their business so multifarious, and the mode of bookkeeping which is forced upon them, so time-killing, as to preclude the possibility of their personally visiting all the cases upon their books (I should say), above twice a year.
1882. W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 484. Hard up for time-killing occupation.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVI. 427/2. Reading it with the idle interest of a time-killer.
