metal detectoristn.
/ˈmɛtl dᵻˌtɛktərɪst/, U.S. /ˈmɛdl dəˌtɛktərəst/ A person who engages in metal-detecting.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > instrument for detection > [noun] > electronic > use of > person engaged in
metal detectorist1987
1987 Sunday Tel. 29 Nov. 11/1 David Loriboad..wrote the article entirely from the archaeological point of view and scarcely made any reference to the metal detectorists' case.
1989 Independent 1 July 1 About 55 per cent of Britain's foreshore is owned by the Crown, including the spot where metal detectorist Ken Willcox found the mount in September 1987.
1994 Kent Archaeol. Rev. Spring 105 A great deal of Romano-British building material was observed on the surface. (This had been observed as well by members of a metal detectorist club.)
1995 Guardian 4 Feb. (Outlook section) 29/1 Those he wants to rescue from condescension are the metal detectorists and historical re-enacters, the steam engine freaks.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1987