[f. TIME v. and sb. + -ER1.]
† 1. One who is skilled in time or measure; a musician. Obs. rare–1.
c. 1500. in Grose, etc., Antiq. Rep. (1809), IV. 407. How may a mysmovede tymere judge a trew instrument?
2. One who appoints or fixes the time for an action, event, etc.
1841. Lowell, Ode, II. 3. [The Poet] fits his singing, like a cunning timer, To all men’s prides and fancies as they pass.
3. a. A watch or clock, with reference to its time-keeping qualities; a (good or bad) time-keeper. b. One who times clocks, etc., i.e., who keeps them to exact time. c. One who marks the time in athletics, etc.; = TIME-KEEPER 2 c.
1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., 303/2. Guaranteed good Timers.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 14. The want of constancy in the force of the balance spring … is one of the chief difficulties of the timer.
1890. Century Mag., June, 205/2. The English are partial to a single watch in the hands of an experienced timer, but to make a record in this country requires the presence of three timers or measurers.
1891. Cycling, 21 Feb., 82. I am aware that timers of professional events in the Midlands use the old-fashioned type.
4. As the second element in combinations, as FULL-TIMER, HALF-TIMER, OLD-TIMER; fast timer, one who or that which completes a race, etc., in fast time.
1891. Daily News, 28 Dec., 3/5. The fastest timers ran in the deciding round.
1903. Motor. Ann., 163. In the mile race the fastest timers in the different classes were [etc.].
