slater

¹ American  

[sley-ter] / ˈsleɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who lays slates, slate, as for roofing.

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Slater ² American  

[sley-ter] / ˈsleɪ tər /

noun

1. Samuel, 1768–1835, U.S. industrialist, born in England.

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slater British  

/ ˈsleɪtə /

noun

1. a person trained in laying roof slates

2. dialect a woodlouse See also sea slater

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Etymology

Origin of slater

First recorded in 1375–1425, slater is from the late Middle English word sclater. See slate ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Louise recounts a slater called John McWilliam, who fled to Stranraer after being accused of witchcraft for a second time, before going on trial in Edinburgh.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025

He promised an updated list, but more than six month slater, it has yet to appear.

From BBC • May 26, 2025

Inwardly they made a vow that none who belonged to them should ever become a slater.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 09 Friedrich Hebbel and Otto Ludwig by Various

The slater who meets his death through accident stands before the world as an honest man—honest as the soldier who dies on the battle-field.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 09 Friedrich Hebbel and Otto Ludwig by Various

Thus, from tower-roof where he doth clamber, Calls out the slater; and with him the small big man, Jack Metaphysicus, down in his writing-chamber!

From Rampolli by MacDonald, George