Also 7–9 extracter. [f. as prec. + -OR.]
1. One who extracts.
1611. Cotgr., Spargirique … an Alchymist, or extractor of quintessences.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 79. The juice … is drawn out by the Extractors, who … resolve the dreggs and vile liquor of the Parenchyma.
1755. Johnson, Extractor, the person or instrument by which any thing is extracted.
1828. Blackw. Mag., XXIV. 198/1. The glory of this wooden Empress of Heavens, healer of diseases, and extractor of money.
1868. Daily News, 16 June, 3/4. Mr. Abrams … begged to say that his client was not a corn-cutter, but a corn-extractor.
2. One who selects and copies out quotations.
1813. Edin. Rev., XXI. 267. A judicious extractor … might accommodate both classes of readers.
1884. Blackw. Mag., June, 824/1. The ‘extractor’ who looks for a fitting pause in the ‘spate’ of Mr Ruskin’s eloquence.
b. spec. in Sc. Law. (See quot. 1861.)
1687. Act Sederunt, 23 Feb. The Lords do extend the priviledges … to … four extracters in each of the three clarks offices of the Session. Ibid. (1751), 4 Jan. The Lords … do … prohibit … all agents from being extractors, and all extractors from agenting.
1810. in Hansard, Parl. Deb., June. [Mr. Thomas Scott] was appointed to the office of an Extractor.
1861. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 374/2. Extractor; is the official person by whom the extract of a decree or other judicial proceeding is prepared and authenticated.
1868. [see EXTRACTABLE].
3. An instrument for drawing or pulling out anything; esp. that part of a breech-loading gun that removes the cartridge.
1753. N. Torriano, Midwifry, 18. They never turned Children;… their only Resource was to Knives, Extractors, Specula Matricis, &c.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (ed. 9), 168. 1 setter. 2 needles. 1 extractor.
1871. Daily News, 11 April, 6/3. The loaded man opens the breech of his rifle, uses the extracter, takes out the cartridge.
1885. J. J. Manley, Brit. Almanac Comp., 19. Extractors, comb foundations and other appliances used in bee-keeping.
† 4. A solvent used to extract (juices, etc.). Obs.
1678. Salmon, Lond. Disp., 852/1. The strength of the Extracter or dissolvent.
Hence Extractorship, the office of an extractor (in sense 2 b).
1837. Lockhart, Scott, xx. Mr. Thomas Scott’s appointment to this Extractorship.
1877. Geneal. Mem. Family Sir W. Scott, 61. Sir Walter secured for him an extractorship in the General Register House.
