subs. (old).—1. Orig. nautical. Figuratively = a moderate man, one taking a middle course between two extremes. Hence (2) a waverer, apostate (GROSE), or time-server. Also TO TRIM, verb, and such derivatives as TRIMMING, etc. [In Eng. politics a party which followed the Marquis of Halifax (1680–96) in TRIMMING between the Whigs and the Tories: see quot. infra].
c. 1680. HALIFAX, Character of a Trimmer, Pref. The innocent word TRIMMER signifies no more than this: That if men are together in a boat, and one part of the company should weigh it down on one side, another would make it lean down as much to the contrary, it happens there is a third opinion, of those who conceive it would do as well if the boat went even without endangering the passengers.
c. 1680. R. NORTH, The Lives of the Norths. [A certain party are called TRIMMERS.]
1682. DRYDEN, Epilogue to the Duke of Guise, 23.
| A TRIMMER cry’d (that heard me tell this Story), | |
| Fie, Mistress Cooke! Faith, you’re too rank a Tory! | |
| Wish not Whiggs hang’d, but pity their hard Cases. |
c. 1680. [ MACAULAY, History of England, ii.] He was the chief of those politicians whom the two great parties contemptuously called TRIMMERS. Instead of quarrelling with this nickname, he [Halifax] assumed it as a title of honour…. Everything good, he said, TRIMS between extremes…. Thus Halifax was a TRIMMER on principle.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. TRIMMER, a moderate Man, betwixt Whig and Tory, between Prerogative and Property. TO TRIM, to hold fair with both sides. TRIM the Boat, poise it. TRIM of the Ship, that way she goes best.
1707. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, II. iv. 18. Let me know Whether … like TRIMMERS now-a-days … You equally extend both ways.
1710. HUGHES, Hudibras Imitated, 19.
| A creature of amphibious nature, | |
| That TRIMS betwixt the land and water, | |
| And leaves his mother in the lurch. |
1809. IRVING, Knickerbocker History of New-York, 270. He who perseveres in error without flinching gets the credit of boldness and consistency, while he who wavers in seeking to do what is right gets stigmatized as a TRIMMER.
1885. Daily Telegraph, 6 Nov. Lord Hartington is not the sort of statesman to TRIM his opinions according to the expediency of conciliating or not conciliating.
1885. Daily Chronicle, 5 Oct. They wanted no such aristocrats or TRIMMING Whigs for that constituency.
See TRIM.
3. (colloquial).—Anything specially decisive, of good quality, or noteworthy; a SETTLER (q.v.): spec. (cricket) = a well-delivered ball. Hence TRIMMING = large, big, etc.
1816. SCOTT, The Antiquary, xi. I will show you his last epistle, and the scroll of my answer—egad, it’s a TRIMMER!
