slaver

¹ American  

[sley-ver] / ˈsleɪ vər /

noun

1. a person who buys, sells, or owns human beings; an enslaver.

2. slave ship.

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slaver ² American  

[slav-er, sley-ver, slah-] / ˈslæv ər, ˈsleɪ vər, ˈslɑ- /

verb (used without object)

1. to let saliva run from the mouth; slobber; drool.

2. to fawn.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to smear with saliva.

noun

1. saliva coming from the mouth.

2. drivel.

slaver ¹ British  

/ ˈslævə /

verb

1. to dribble saliva

2. (often foll by over)

   1. to fawn or drool (over someone)

   2. to show great desire (for); lust (after)

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noun

1. saliva dribbling from the mouth

2. informal drivel

slaver ² British  

/ ˈsleɪvə /

noun

1. an owner of or dealer in slaves

2. another name for slave ship

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Other Word Forms

• slaverer noun

Etymology

Origin of slaver¹

First recorded in 1815–25; slave + -er ¹

Origin of slaver²

1275–1325; Middle English slaver (noun), slaveren (v.), probably < Scandinavian; compare Icelandic slafra to slobber

Example Sentences

Ellen, whose father was a slaver, was white enough to pass, but as a woman she could not easily travel unaccompanied in 1848.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2023

The Portuguese monarchy also hired explorers such as Alvise Cadamosto, a Venetian slaver sent to scout the region of Senegambia.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

The plaque was installed in the church after the 18th Century slaver died in Dorchester in 1744, aged 46, during a visit to England - he was Scottish by birth.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2022

“Is he looking for the whole truth here? The fact that he was a slaver and ran slaves up to the colonies? That’s what the historical documents say,” Hunt said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2022

The smell of fear made his heart thunder and slaver ran from his jaws, and he reached the falling tree in stride and threw himself up the trunk, claws scrabbling at the bark for purchase.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin