[f. TREAD v. + -ER1.]
1. One who or that which treads, in various senses.
1382. Wyclif, Amos ix. 13. The erer shal cacche the reper, and treder of grape the man sendynge seed.
1538. Elyot, Lenobates, a treader of grapes.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 33. Hence, sparrow treaders liue out scarce a year.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 123. The Gothes and Vandales, the verie treaders downe of the Roman Empire.
1760. Law, Spir. Prayer, II. 112. The seed of the woman, the treader on the serpent’s head.
1826. Scott, Woodst., xiv. A treader of mortar, or a bearer of a hod.
1869. Pall Mall G., 15 Nov., 3. More grapes were now thrown in, and again the treaders set to work.
1887. Suppl. to Jamieson, Tredder, a cock-bird, but generally applied to a [domestic] cock.
† b. See quot. Obs.
1552. Elyot, Anteambulo,… the vssher or treader that goeth before his maister.
c. One who is on the treadmill. rare.
1824. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 35/2. A treader, untried by a jury of his countrymen,… striving against the law of gravity.
2. = TREADLE sb. 2. rare.
1747. Gentl. Mag., Jan., 16/1. A wheel, to which motion was given by the foot by means of a treadle or treader.
3. = TREAD sb. 11.
1881. Young, Every Man his own Mechanic, § 1321. If a garden step or any other step with a treader of stone is required to be made.
