subs. (colloquial).—1. A device or remark designed to bring out the opinions of others.
1841. Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine, Sept. ‘Political Register.’ The Times is putting out FEELERS on the corn-law question.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov., p. 6, col. 3. The efforts made to purchase the Halliwell-Phillips collection by private subscription in Birmingham, have (says the local Times) utterly failed. A FEELER was sent out by the Free Libraries Committee.
2. (common).—The hand. For synonyms, see BUNCH OF FIVES and DADDLE.
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iv. 259. I one day asked a man … if the hard work of prison did not spoil his hands for delicate manipulations. ‘Oh, bless you, no!’ he replied;… ‘In a week or two a man can bring his hooks and FEELERS into full working trim again and no mistake.’
