motorist

[moh-ter-ist]

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noun

a person who drives or travels in a privately owned automobile.

Origin of motorist

First recorded in 1895–1900; motor + -ist

Related formsnon·mo·tor·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for motorist

traveler, tourist, autoist

Examples from the Web for motorist

Historical Examples of motorist

Within her, at that moment, was a desire like the motorist's for speed.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
I recommend them to every motorist who may have to look for a place to land.
'Charge It'
Irving Bacheller
He held up both his arms, the signal of a motorist in distress.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol
William J. Locke
"Hoity, toity," said the motorist, without any sign of shame.
The Burglars' Club
Henry A. Hering
I need a motorist for the Hawk, and I think you'd about fill the bill.
Motor Matt's Air Ship
Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for motorist

motorist

noun

a driver of a car, esp when considered as a car-owner

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 motorist

"motor-car driver," 1896, from motor- + -ist. Earlier as a name for electric railway drivers (1889). Other early alternatives included motorneer.

"Motorer" we have given our reasons for rejecting, and there only remains "motorist" or a compound like "motor-man" or "motor-driver." Mr. C.P.G. Scott, the etymologist of the Century Dictionary, strongly favors "motor-man" or "motor-driver," though he would not object to "motorist" and prefers it above any other single word. ["Electric Power," October 1889]