beater

American  

[bee-ter] / ˈbi tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that beats.

2. an implement or device for beating something (usually used in combination).

   the two beaters on an electric mixer;

   an old-fashioned rug beater that loosens dirt with every forceful whack.

3. Slang: Offensive. wifebeater.

4. Informal. an old vehicle that is in poor condition.

   I drive a beater that I bought for $2,000.

5. Hunting. a person who rouses or drives game from cover.

   The beater flushed a covey of grouse.

6. Papermaking. a machine for beating half-stuff to pulp by separating and shortening the fibers to produce a gelatinous mass.

7. Textiles. reed.

8. Newfoundland. a young seal, usually a month to six weeks old, having completely or almost completely shed its initial white fur.

---

beater British  

/ ˈbiːtə /

noun

1. a person who beats or hammers

   a panel beater

2. an instrument or device used for beating

   a carpet beater

3. a person who rouses wild game from woodland, undergrowth, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of beater

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English beter, better; beat, -er ¹; the seals in beater def. 8 are so named for their beating of the water with their flippers as they learn to swim

Example Sentences

It was a world beater and helped put BMW on the map internationally as a car builder.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jets and wildfire beaters were used to stop flames reaching the properties, Mr Hayward said.

From BBC

The brigade said it was also using wildfire beaters - a long handle with a flat piece of rubber at the end.

From BBC

The blaze was brought under control by 22:30 using jets, beaters and knapsacks.

From BBC

His buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter Thursday propelled a comeback against the Knicks.

From Los Angeles Times