Feed"er (?), n.
1.
One who, or that which, gives food or supplies nourishment; steward.
A couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder.
Goldsmith.
2.
One who furnishes incentives; an encourager.
"The
feeder of my riots."
Shak.
3.
One who eats or feeds; specifically, an animal to be fed or fattened.
With eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder.
Shak.
4.
One who fattens cattle for slaughter.
5.
A stream that flows into another body of water; a tributary; specifically Hydraulic Engin., a water course which supplies a canal or reservoir by gravitation or natural flow.
6.
A branch railroad, stage line, or the like; a side line which increases the business of the main line.
7. Mining (a)
A small lateral lode falling into the main lode or mineral vein.
Ure. (b)
A strong discharge of gas from a fissure; a blower
.
Raymond.
8. Mach.
An auxiliary part of a machine which supplies or leads along the material operated upon.
9. Steam Engine
A device for supplying steam boilers with water as needed.
© Webster 1913.