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Webster 1913 Edition


Trimmer

Trim′mer

,
Noun.
1.
One who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.
2.
One who does not adopt extreme opinions in politics, or the like; one who fluctuates between parties, so as to appear to favor each; a timeserver.
Thus Halifax was a
trimmer
on principle.
Macaulay.
3.
An instrument with which trimming is done.
4.
(Arch.)
A beam, into which are framed the ends of headers in floor framing, as when a hole is to be left for stairs, or to avoid bringing joists near chimneys, and the like. See Illust. of
Header
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Trimmer

TRIM'MER

,
Noun.
One that trims; a timeserver.
1.
A piece of timber fitted in.
All the joists and the trimmers for the staircase--

Definition 2024


trimmer

trimmer

English

Adjective

trimmer

  1. comparative form of trim: more trim

Noun

trimmer (plural trimmers)

  1. One who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.
    • 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, “Life Loves Living,”
      It put me to endless expense of having roof-men, gutter-men and tree-trimmers. At last I gave the grim order, “Cut her down.”
  2. A device used to trim.
  3. (nautical) A member of the crew who trims the sails.
  4. Someone who fluctuates between opposing factions, political parties etc., according to current interest, a flip-flopper.
    • 1848, Baron Macaulay, History of England, I.2:
      Thus Halifax was a Trimmer on principle.
    • 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin 2012, p. 9:
      Lady Margaret Beaufort's third husband, Lord Stanley, an accomplished political trimmer, gave fair words but little commitment: the vast, well-armed Stanley retinues shadowed Henry's route southeast to the battlefield and waited, detached, to see how the chips fell.
  5. (architecture) A beam into which are framed the ends of headers in floor framing, as when a hole is to be left for stairs, or to avoid bringing joists near chimneys.
  6. A device for storing coal in gradually increasing piles made by building up at the point of the cone or top of the prism.

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