pearl divern.

1669 Philos. Trans. 1668 (Royal Soc.) 3 863 The greatest length of time, that Pearl-Divers in these parts can hold under water, is about a quarter of an hour.

1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World xii. 359 We used to observe a large kind of flat fish... These are reported to be very destructive to the Pearl divers, for when they return up again, if they take not great heed, these wrap their broad finns about them.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. viii. 217 The fish that is said frequently to destroy the pearl divers.

1822 J. M. Good Study Med. I. 442 A pearl-diver, who, under his own eye remained half an hour at a time under water, while pursuing his hunt for pearl-muscles.

1860 N. Hawthorne Marble Faun I. xiv. 165 She pointed to the statue of the pearl-diver. ‘My secret is not a pearl,’ said she; ‘yet a man might drown himself in plunging after it.’

1927 Geogr. Jrnl. 69 246 Retired pirates from being raiders of the pearl fleets of Bahrain have become pearl divers on the adjoining banks.

2000 Time Out 26 Jan. 124/1 (advt.) This interpretation was like a pearl diver coming up with a gem at every try.

1907 Boston Sunday Globe 10 Mar. 64/4 Pearl diver wanted... ‘The cafe was not in need of a diver when I applied, but the cashier explained the duties of the job. The diver was the dishwasher; just the Texas slang for the occupation.’

1913 E. A. Brown Broke iii. 29 I am in line for a pearl~diver's (dishwasher's) job tomorrow.

1929 Washington Post 6 Sept. 11/4 In the large camps of Yellowstone Park the girls who wash dishes are known as ‘pearl divers’.

1970 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 15 Jan. 3B/5 Euphemism has upgraded other jobs. In parts of the country, dishwashers have been called utensil maintenance men, though back at the sink they still may be ‘pearl divers’.

2000 A. Bourdain Kitchen Confid. (2001) 20 Dishwashers (sudbusters, aka pearl divers) were the most transient breed in the seasonal restaurant business.