PRIMER

fuse, fuze, fusee, fuzee, primer, priming

(noun) any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant

primer

(noun) an introductory textbook

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Noun

primer (plural primers)

(historical, Catholic ecclesiastical) A prayer or devotional book intended for laity, initially an abridgment of the breviary and manual including the hours of the Virgin Mary, 15 gradual and 7 penitential psalms, the litany, the placebo and dirige forming the office of the dead, and the commendations.

(historical, Protestant ecclesiastical) Similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.

A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell.

(New Zealand) An elementary school class; an elementary school student.

Synonyms

• (devotional book): book of hours, prayer book

Etymology 2

Noun

primer (countable and uncountable, plural primers)

Any substance or device, such as priming wire or blasting cap, used to ignite gunpowder or other explosive.

(obsolete, rare) A person who primes explosives.

A substance used to prime wood, metal, etc. in preparation for painting.

A layer of such a substance.

A layer of makeup that goes beneath the foundation; undermakeup.

(obsolete, rare) A person who primes wood, metal, etc.

(biochemistry) A molecule which initiates the synthesis of an enzyme, (especially) a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule which initiates DNA replication.

(medicine, zoology) A pheromone which interacts first with the endocrine system.

A device used to prime an internal combustion engine with gasoline, (especially) in airplanes.

A person who prunes trees.

Etymology 3

Adjective

primer (not comparable)

(obsolete) First in time, initial, early.

(obsolete) First in importance, premier.

(obsolete, rare) First in position, foremost.

Source: Wiktionary

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Prim"er, n.

Definition: One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other capable for igniting a charge of gunpowder.

Prim"er, a. Etym: [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.]

Definition: First; original; primary. [Obs.] "The primer English kings." Drayton. Primer fine (O. Eng. Law), a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine. Blackstone.

– Primer seizin (Feudal Law), the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight's fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year's profits of the land if in possession, and half a year's profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; -- now abolished. Blackstone.

Prim"er, n. Etym: [Originally, the book read at prime, the first canonical hour. LL. primae liber. See Prime, n., 4.]

1. Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also, a work of elementary religious instruction. The primer, or office of the Blessed Virgin. Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner. As he sat in the school at his prymer. Chaucer.

3. (Print.)

Definition: A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica.

Note: Great primer type.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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