subs. (old).—1. A person of good figure and address employed to walk up and down in front of, or inside a shop; a shop-walker: cf. BARKER. Hence (2) a person or thing that by challenging attention acts as a foil or set-off.
1748. RICHARDSON, Clarissa, II. 3. What think you … of rejecting both your men and encouraging my PARADER.
1821. P. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, 179. His fine figure obtained him employment as a PARADER to Richardson.
