[f. SORT v.1 + -ER.]
1. One who sorts, arranges, selects or classifies; esp. a wool-sorter. Also transf.
1554. Act 1 Mary, c. 7 § 1. Forcers of Wolles … and Sorters of Wolles.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 201. The tounge is assinde, of woordes to be sorter.
1758. Jortin, Life Erasmus, I. 488. It is plain More wrote it not—and … he says he was a sorter of that book.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. i. (1869), I. 12. The shepherd, the sorter of the wool, the wool-comber, or carder.
1844. G. Dodd, Textile Manuf., iii. 96. The fingers of the sorter acquire by practice an extraordinary degree of sensitiveness.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 339/2. Wool … is … divided into ‘sorts’ or qualities by experienced sorters or staplers.
b. spec. A letter-sorter.
1699. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Sorter, (at the Post Office) that puts or Digests the Letters into Order or Method.
1737. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. List Offices [in G.P.O.] 690. Sorters 16, of which 14 have 50l. per An. and the two last 40l.
1861. Wynter, Soc. Bees, 3. Others again … carry the letters for the general delivery to the tables of the sorters.
1895. Forum (U.S.), Oct., 196. A sorter at the post-office … may accidentally sort one letter of his own out of a million.
2. With advs., as out.
1599. Life More, in C. Wordsworth, Eccl. Biog. (1817), II. 169. I was onlie a sorter out and placer of principall matters in the same [book] contained.
1881. Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 65/3. Worsted Manufacture:… Sorter out, Spinner.
Hence Sortership, the office or position of a letter-sorter.
1886. Guide Civil Service, 293. Competitive Examination for Female Sorterships in the General Post Office, London.
Sorter, dial. or vulgar f. sort of: SORT sb.2 8 c.
