subs. (obsolete).—1. ‘In Eng. Hist. An agent, one who acts for others; a name given to the agents or delegates of the private soldiers in the Parliamentary Army, 1647–9; in which use it varied with ADJUTATOR’ (O.E.D.). [J. A. H. MURRAY: ‘Careful investigation satisfies me that AGITATOR was the actual title, and ADJUTATOR originally only a bad spelling of soldiers familiar with Adjutants and the Adjutors of 1641.]
2. (common).—A bell-rope, or knocker. TO AGITATE THE COMMUNICATOR = to ring the bell.
