Searcher

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Searcher \Search"er\, n. [Cf. OF. cercheor inspector.]
     One who, or that which, searches or examines; a seeker; an
     inquirer; an examiner; a trier. Specifically:
     (a) Formerly, an officer in London appointed to examine the
         bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death.
         --Graunt.


     (b) An officer of the customs whose business it is to search
         ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.
     (c) An inspector of leather. [Prov. Eng.]
     (d) (Gun.) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon,
         to detect cavities.
     (e) An implement for sampling butter; a butter trier.
     (j) (Med.) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the
         bladder, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  searcher
       n 1: someone making a search or inquiry; "they are seekers after
            truth" [syn: {seeker}, {quester}]
       2: a customs official whose job is to search baggage or goods
          or vehicles for contraband or dutiable items
       3: large metallic blue-green beetle that preys on caterpillars;
          found in North America [syn: {searcher beetle}, {Calosoma
          scrutator}]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  SEARCHER, Eng. law. An officer of the customs, whose duty it is to examine 
  and search all ships outward bound, to ascertain whether they have any 
  prohibited or uncustomed goods on board.