[Cf. MLG. wulkemmer, (M)Du. wolkammer, G. wollkämmer.]
1. One who combs or cards wool.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3820/4. Philip Adams,… aged 25, a Woollcomber.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. x. I. 156. Half a dozen wool-combers perhaps are necessary to keep a thousand spinners and weavers at work.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 144. The wool is not carded in the factory, but is given out to the wool-combers, who comb it by hand.
1889. J. Burnley, Hist. Wool, etc., 210. The term ‘woolcomber’ had completely changed its significance. In 1825 it indicated a member of the operative classes; in 1873 it was only used in regard to a class of employers.
1913. Times, 9 Aug., 17/2. The biggest loss, £30,000, was incurred, by an outbreak [of fire] at a Bradford woolcomber’s.
2. = WOOL-COMB. rare.
1854. R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., l. I should sit on pins—on woolcombers—with nothin’ but summer drawers on, till the account appeared.
So Wool-combing vbl. sb. (also attrib.).
1723. Abridg. Specif. Patents, Spinning (1866), 3. Two instruments of iron, to be used in the said trade of wooll kembing and pressing.
1813. Vancouver, Agric. Devon, 387. The woolcombing business was formerly carried on … at Chumleigh.
1837. Hebert, Engin. & Mech. Encycl., II. 913. Wool-combing by machinery has now almost superseded the work by hand.
1842. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., IV. 440/1. A new wool-combing apparatus.
