[f. WHITEN v. + -ER1.]
1. One who whitens, in any sense; spec. a person employed in bleaching or other whitening process.
1611. Cotgr., Blanchisseur,… a whitener of clothes.
1637. Crompton’s Jurisd., 179. No tawer or whitener of skins shall remain in the forests.
c. 1700. Kennett, MS. Lansd. 1033. Bleacher, a whitener or whitester of linnen.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VII. lxxxiv. 291. A partial whitener of his own cause, or blackener of another’s.
1881. Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 45. Pin Maker … Whitener.
1895. Daily News, 15 Nov., 7/1. Walter Wells, a silver-plater, in the employment of Messrs. Elkington…. Frank Naylor, whitener and repairer, employed by Messrs. Elkington.
2. A thing that whitens; spec. a substance or agent used for whitening, bleaching, etc.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I. ii. 6. Wind is a Dryer,… Frost a Cooler, Dryer, a Whitener.
