WASTERING

WASTER

Wast"er, n. Etym: [OE. wastour, OF. wasteor, gasteor. See Waste, v. t.]

1. One who, or that which, wastes; one who squanders; one who consumes or expends extravagantly; a spendthrift; a prodigal. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. Sconces are great wasters of candles. Swift.

2. An imperfection in the wick of a candle, causing it to waste; -- called also a thief. Halliwell.

3. A kind of cudgel; also, a blunt-edged sword used as a foil. Half a dozen of veneys at wasters with a good fellow for a broken head. Beau. & Fl. Being unable to wield the intellectual arms of reason, they are fain to betake them unto wasters. Sir T. Browne.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition