trimmers

Noun

trimmer (plural trimmers)

1. One who trims, arranges, fits, or ornaments.
   • It put me to endless expense of having roof-men, gutter-men and tree-trimmers. At last I gave the grim order, “Cut her down.”1944, Emily Carr, “Life Loves Living”, in The House of All Sorts
2. A device used to trim.
   • My new electric shaver has a beard trimmer attachment.
3. A member of the crew who trims the sails.

   Synonyms:

   sail trimmer

4. Someone who fluctuates between opposing factions, political parties etc., according to current interest, a flip-flopper.
   • Thus Halifax was a Trimmer on principle.1848, Baron Macaulay, History of England, I.2
5. A beam into which are framed the ends of headers in floor framing, as when a hole is to be left for stairs, or to avoid bringing joists near chimneys.
6. (historical) A person employed to rearrange the coal in the hold of a vessel, so that it fills the vessel without forming a conical blockage.
   • Trimmers are used to stow the coal in the vessel, and, in the case of vessels with awkwardly-situated cargo spaces, a great deal of trimming may be involved. Vessels specially constructed for coal carrying have very wide hatches, and these may be easy trimmers, that is, need only a minimum of...1945 January and February, T. F. Cameron, “Dock Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 11

See all 12 meanings of trimmer