[f. as prec. + -ER1.] One who, or that which, quenches.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., I. 820. Norysshere of vertu and quenchere of vice.
1561. Preston, King Cambyses, 904. Of the same [heat] the quencher you must be.
a. 1665. J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit (1867), 353. Those quenchers of the Spirit in themselves.
1704. F. Fuller, Med. Gymn. (1711), 86. Liquorice … was ever reputed by the Ancients, for the greatest quencher of Thirst in Nature.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, viii. Mrs. Pipchin’s presence was a quencher to any number of candles.
1879. H. N. Hudson, Hamlet, Pref. 4. A feast so overlaid with quenchers of the appetite.
b. colloq. Something to quench thirst; a drink.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxxv. Mr. Swiveller replied … that he was still open to a ‘modest quencher.’
1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. i. A pleasant public, whereat we must really take a modest quencher.
1857. Kingsley, Two Y. Ago, xviii. Trebooze … now offers Tom a ‘quencher,’ as he calls it.
