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machinist

[muh-shee-nist]
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noun
  1. a person who operates machinery, especially a skilled operator of machine tools.
  2. a person who makes or repairs machines.
  3. U.S. Navy. a warrant officer whose duty is to assist the engineering officer in the engine room.
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Origin of machinist

First recorded in 1700–10; machine + -ist
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

artisanoperatorworkermachinistspecialistjourneymanmastermechanicmakermanufacturersmithwrighttechniciancraftsmanartificerhandicraftsmanblacksmith

Examples from the Web for machinist

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • They want us to take back the machinist that was dismissed the other day for drunkenness.

    The Great Hunger

    Johan Bojer

  • "There will be my machinist in the rumble-seat," replied Morton, blushing furiously.

    The Last Woman

    Ross Beeckman

  • "The machinist Scholer and his assistant Bracher," was the reply.

  • "I thought you were a machinist and came from Pittsburg," interrupted Chester, in surprise.

    Chester Rand

    Horatio Alger, Jr

  • He has only  ordinary ability in other directions, but as a machinist he is a marvel.

    How to Become Rich

    William Windsor

British Dictionary definitions for machinist

machinist

noun
  1. a person who operates machines to cut or process materials
  2. a maker or repairer of machines
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for machinist

n.

1706, "engineer, mechanical inventor," a hybrid from machine (n.) + -ist. Meaning "machine operator" is attested from 1879.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper