[app. f. found, pa. pple. of FIND v. + -ER1.]
† 1. = FINDER. Obs.
1577. Frampton, Joyful News, in App. Jas. I’s Counterbl. (Arb.), 84. Lorde Nicot, one of the Kynges Counsellers first founder out of this hearbe.
2. spec. in Derbysh. Lead-mining (see quot 1851).
1601. High Peak Art., I. in Mander, Derbysh. Min. Gloss. (1824), 130. Who before such takers aforesaid were or pretended to be possessed of the same ground as taker of a Fore-field for an old founder.
1851. Tapping, Lead-mining Terms (E.D.S.), Founder is the mining term expressive of the finder of a vein or rake, or, in ordinary language, a miner.
3. That portion of a lead-mine which is given to the first finder of the vein; hence, the part first worked. Called also founder-meer, -shaft.
1653. Manlove, Lead-Mines, 59 (E.D.S.).
| And if two Founders in one Rake be set, | |
| Perchance the Farmers may a Prim-gapp get. |
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., I ijb. Sometimes it happens that there is two Founders in the same Vein, for a Vein may be found at a distance from my Founder.
1802. Mawe, Mineral. Derbysh., Gloss., 204. Foundermere. The first 32 yards of ground worked. Foundershaft. The first shaft that is sunk.
1851. Act 14 & 15 Vict., c. 94 § 2. The Word ‘Founder’ shall mean the Point at which a Vein of Ore shall be first found … the Words ‘Founder-Meers’ shall mean the Two first Meers to be set out to the Finder.
