[f. BLEAT v. + -ER1.]

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  1.  An animal that bleats, as a sheep, calf, etc.

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1567.  Morton, Gt. Bull, in Harl. Misc. (1811), VII. 536. Some calves with blacke faces, as blacke soule and hys fellowes common bleaters.

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1755.  Gentl. Mag., XXV. 568. Swift o’er the lawns the little bleaters bound.

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1808.  Jamieson, Bleater, the cock snipe, Ettr. For.; denominated from its bleating sound.

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1855.  Singleton, Virgil, I. 87. Plunge the flock of bleaters in the healthful stream.

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  † 2.  Thieves’ slang: (see quot.) Obs.

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1609.  Dekker, Lanthorne & Candle-lt., Wks. 1884–5, III. 290. They that are Cheated by Iacke in a Boxe, are called Bleaters.

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