[f. THRUST v. + -ER1.]
1. One who or that which thrusts: see the verb.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., b iv b/2. The expulser or thruster out (of teeth).
1612. J. Davies, Muse’s Sacr. (Grosart), 34/2. I was sore thrust at,… But, thou o’erthrew’st my thrusters.
1794. Hope’s New Meth. Fencing, 221. After whatever Fashion the Thruster holds his Fleuret.
1825. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 4/2. The corves … were drawn to the shaft of the pit by several other men called hurriers, and a number of boys called thrusters [cf. THRUTCHER].
1907. Contemp. Rev., April, 512. Brunetière was a keen thruster and never missed a party.
2. Hunting slang. One who thrusts himself forward in the field, or rides too close to the hounds.
1886. Field, 2 Jan., 3/1. His companion … chances to be a recognised thruster in the fullest sense of the term. Ibid. (1892), 9 Jan., 56/1. More than the average number of thrusters striving for a forward place.
1898. J. A. Gibbs, Cotswold Vill., xii. 305. That somewhat unpopular class of sportsmen, the ‘thrusters’ of the hunting field.
