searcher

From Middle English serchour, sercher, from Old French cercheor; equivalent to search +‎ -er.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɝt͡ʃɚ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː(ɹ)t͡ʃə(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tʃə(ɹ)

searcher (plural searchers)

1. One who searches.
   • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 4:

     When he had repoſed four years and four months in the boſom of care, rocked in the cradle of proſperity, he was brought forth, according to the cuſtom of true believers, and committed to the charge of moralifts of high fame, poliſhers of noble manners, and ſearchers of true knowledge, that they might cultivate his heaven-born genius, and teach him with dignity to rule that world which he was born to command[.]

2. (UK, historical) An officer in London appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death.
   • 1662-1663, John Graunt, Natural and Political Observations Made Upon the Bills of Mortality:

     The Searchers hereupon (who are ancient Matrons, sworn to their Office) repair to the place where the dead Corps lies

3. (UK, historical) An officer who apprehended idlers on the street during church hours in Scotland.
4. A customs officer responsible for searching ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.
5. (UK, obsolete) (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) An inspector of leather.
   • 1835 March 30, Commissioners on Municipal Corporations in England and Wales, “Report on the Borough of Scarborough, (Yorkshire.)”, in Municipal Corporations, (England and Wales.): Appendix to the First Report of the Commissioners.‎, Part III. Northern and North-Midland Circuits., London: House of Commons, page 1719:

     62. Leather Searcher and Sealer, functions of. The offices of Leather Searcher and Sealer are united in one person. He examines and seals all hides and leather, receiving some small fees of the parties for so doing, but has no salary or perquisites from the corporation.

   • 1837, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Papers: 1780-1849 (volume 52, part 2, page 136)

     Means adopted by tanners to evade the searcher's and sealer's inspection

   • 1891, Louth: Old Corporation Records, page 52:

     THE OATH OF SEARCHERS AND SEALERS OF LETHER . You & eu'y of you shall well & truly view & search all & eu'y tanned hide skinne or Leather which shall be brought to any faire or m'kett within the p'cincts of the towne of Louth […]

   • 2011, George Redmonds, ‎Turi King, ‎David Hey, Surnames, DNA, and Family History (page 31)

     In 1362 William Drydale was the elected ale-taster, a manorial office like that of the leather searcher or pinder.

6. An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon, to detect cavities.
7. An implement for sampling butter.
8. A sieve or strainer.
9. An instrument for feeling after calculi in the bladder, etc.

• searcheress

• re-search, reachers, research