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.
