[f. FLAT v. + -ER1.]
1. A workman who makes something (e.g., a blank or planchet, a hide or skin, etc.) flat.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1728), I. 249. The consequence of which would be, that not only the Weaver, but likewise the Silver-spinner, the Flatter, the Wire-drawer, the Bar-man, and the Refiner, would, in a little time be affected with this Frugality.
1741. Chambers, Cycl., Flatter or Flattener. See Coining.
1885. C. T. Davis, Manuf. Leather, xxix. 497. The sides next go to a ‘flatter,’ who levels off the shanks and bellies with a currier’s knife.
2. A tool used in making things flat, e.g., a very broad-faced hammer used by smiths.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 878/2. Flatter.… (Wire-drawing.). A draw-plate with a flat orifice, to draw out flat strips, such as watch-springs, skirt-wire, etc.
1888. Lockwood’s Dict. Terms Mech. Engin., Flatter, a species of hammer used by smiths. Its use is to finish over broad surfaces which have been brought to size by the sledge and set hammer.
