shiftern.
/ˈʃɪftə/, U.S. /ˈʃɪftər/ 1. One who shifts something (in any sense of the verb); spec. a scene-shifter.
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the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > [noun] > placing or being placed in different position > one who
shifter1571
transpositor1824
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > the staging of a theatrical production > people concerned with theatrical productions > [noun] > person in charge of scenery > scene-shifter
scene-drawer1699
scene man1700
shifter1711
scene-shifter1724
scenist1790
grip1888
1571 Act 13 Eliz. c. 8 §4 All..other Doynges whatsoever for Gayne..whereuppon is not reserved.. to the Lender Contracter Shyfter Forbearer or Deliverer above the Summe of Tenne Poundes for the Loane or Forbearinge of a Hundred Poundes for one yere.
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love ii. iii. sig. D4v He is no great shifter; once a yeare his Apparell is ready to reuolt. View more context for this quotation
1680 Reflections on late Libel on Curse-ye-Meroz 28 The Author had (in all probability) been Lecturer there at this day, (for he is no Starter, nor Shifter, nor Swapper of Livings).
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 42. ¶3 Two or three Shifters of Scenes, with the two Candle-Snuffers, make up a compleat Body of Guards upon the English Stage.
1761 C. Churchill Rosciad 7 Then came drum, trumpet, hautboy, fiddle, flute; Next, snuffer, sweeper, shifter, soldier, mute.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 26 Oct. 6/1 The cords..by which the scenes were raised and lowered were so crossed and entangled that the shifters could not find those belonging to [etc.].
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > passing over, omission > person engaged in
overskipperc1400
shifter away1563
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 971/2 This is a greuous contumely, that you call me a shifter away of the Scriptures, and of the Doctours.
a. One who resorts to petty shifts or tricks, or who practises artifice; an idle, thriftless fellow; a trickster, cozener, etc. Also with for. Obsolete.
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society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > worthlessness > good-for-nothing person
brethelingc1275
filec1300
dogc1330
ribald1340
waynouna1350
waster1352
lorel1362
losel1362
land-leaper1377
triflera1382
brothelc1390
javelc1400
leftc1400
lorerc1400
shackerellc1420
brethel1440
never-thrift1440
vagrant1444
ne'er-thrifta1450
never-thrivinga1450
nebulona1475
breelc1485
naughty pack?1534
brathel1542
carrion1547
slim1548
unsel155.
pelf1551
shifterc1562
rag1566
wandrel?1567
land-loper1570
nothing-worth1580
baggage1594
roly-poly1602
bash-rag1603
arrant1605
ragabash?1609
flabergullion1611
hilding1611
hard bargain1612
slubberdegullion1612
vauneant1621
knick-knacker1622
idle-pack1624
slabberdegullion1653
thimble-maker1654
whiffler1659
never-do-well1664
good-for-nought1671
ne'er-be-good1675
shack1682
vagabond1686
shabaroon1699
shag-bag1699
houndsfoot1710
ne'er-do-well1737
trumpery1738
rap1742
hallion1789
scamp1808
waffie1808
ne'er-do-good1814
vaurien1829
sculpin1834
shicer1846
good-for-nothing1847
wastrel1847
scallywag1848
shack-bag1855
beat1865
toe-rag1875
rodney1877
toe-ragger1896
low-lifer1902
punk1904
lowlife1909
ringtail1916
git1939
no-hoper1944
schlub1950
piss artist1962
dead leg1964
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > a charlatan, fraudster > [noun] > a sharper, swindler
hawk1548
huckster1556
shifterc1562
coney-catcher1591
sharker1594
shark1600
bat-fowler1602
guller1602
gull-groper1602
poop-noddy1616
int1631
shirk1639
knight of industrya1658
hockettor1672
biter1680
sharper1681
duffer1735
sharp1797
diddler1803
chevalier of industry1807
flat-catcher1821
thimble-man1830
thimblerigger1831
thimblerig1839
riggerc1840
chevalier of fortune1867
flim-flammer1881
spiv1929
sharpie1942
shrewd1954
c1562 E. Underhill in Narr. Reformation (Camden) 158 Another spitefull enemy att Stepeney, callede Banbery, a shifter, a dycer, a hore-hunter.
1575 J. Awdely Fraternitye of Vacabondes (new ed.) sig. A1 The..company of Cousoners and Shifters.
1584 G. Whetstone Mirour for Magestrates f. 26 These expert Shifters, by falce Dice, slipperie castynge, or some other nice Sleight:..wyll make their Purses as emptie of Money, as the Catte the Mouses headde of Braynes.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. iv. 40 The great abuse by som shifters, who go vnder the name of Scriueners.
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. iii. 130 In worldly matters, practis'd and cunning Shifters.
b. One who uses evasive reasoning.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > [noun] > false reasoner, sophist
sophisterc1380
Duns man1528
chop-loge1542
dunser?1550
shifter1567
chop-logic1575
sophist1581
casuist1616
casualist1633
Jesuit1640
logicaster1683
chopper1699
special pleader1796
1567–9 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (1611) ii. v. 141 It were hard to say, that Christ, his Apostles, the Prophets and holy Fathers were shifters, and Heretikes.
1648 W. Jenkyn Ὁδηγος Τυϕλος iii. 36 Poore shifter!..it seemes the novice hath..driven you to another shift.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 23 Dec. 3/2 Shiftings and wrigglings which have made the shifters and wrigglers contemptible in the eyes of all sensible people.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > ship's cooks and assistants
shifter1704
sea-cook1707
doctor1803
slushy1859
cook's mate1865
potwalloper1890
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook > [noun] > ship's cook > assistant
shifter1704
cook's mate1865
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Shifters, certain Men aboard a Man of War who are employed by the Cooks to shift or change the Water in which the Flesh or Fish is put and laid for some time, in order to fit it for the Kettle.
1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expositor
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle I. ii. 14 I have..served all offices on board from cook's shifter to the command of a vessel.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Shifter, a person appointed to assist the ship's cook, particularly in..steeping, and shifting the salt provisions.
5. Mining. (See quots. 1894, 1906.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > miner > [noun] > other specific mine workers
chipper1747
blaster1776
tributor1778
striker1824
shifter1830
bandsman1852
back-shift1860
drifter1864
metal man1883
stower1886
wagoner1886
hard rock1922
beacher1923
1830 T. Wilson Pitman's Pay (1843) 57 Aw gat at furst a shifter's place, And then a deputy was myed.
1880 Leeds Mercury 16 Sept. 8 William Hartley, a master shifter said that he worked in No. 2 Hutton or Harvey seam.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Shifter, Shift-man, a man who prepares the working places at night in a colliery for the men who come in at next shift... Shifters work by the day or shift, as distinct from hewers, who work by the ton or yard.
1906 Daily News 17 Oct. 7/1 A shifter..is a man whose chief duties are to keep the tunnels clear of falls of coal, and to shore up unsafe places.
6. Mechanics.
a. A contrivance used for shifting. In many applications, e.g. a kind of clutch serving to transfer a belt from one pulley to another; also (see quot. 1875). Also attributive.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > parts which provide power > [noun] > clutches
bayonet1798
clutch1814
gland1825
friction-clutch1842
disc clutch1859
shifter1869
cone-clutch1874
clutch-box1875
jaw clutch1893
plate clutch1906
band clutch1910
single-plate clutch1926
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > other specific parts
armOE
button?1561
running gear1663
relax1676
collar1678
drumhead1698
long arm1717
drum1744
press cloth1745
head1785
absorber1789
bearing plate1794
crown1796
rhodings1805
press box1825
alternator1829
cushion1832
saw tooth1835
shoe1837
keyboard1839
returner1839
cross-head1844
channel shoe1845
baster1846
water port1864
shifter1869
magazine1873
entry port1874
upsetter1875
mechanism1876
tapper1876
tension bar1879
buttonholer1882
take-up1884
auger1886
instrument panel1897
balancer1904
torsion bar1937
powerhead1960
1869 W. J. M. Rankine Cycl. Machine & Hand-tools Pl.I 5 This shaft actuates a vertical rock shaft,..imparting the required motion to the belt shifter on the top of the machine.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Shifter (knitting-machine), one of the beardless needles..which..operate to disengage the outer loops of the course and put them on the next inner or the next outer needles for narrowing or widening.
1920 R. T. Nicholson Mech. Devices Typewriter 47 The pawl can be swung into engagement with either spool at will by means of the shifter-knob.
b. A small engine employed in making up a railway train.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > other types of engine > [noun] > other specific engines
ballast engine?1748
reciprocator1769
bellows-engine1834
jack engine1847
power producer1859
trunk-engine1864
naphtha engine1876
jinny1877
barring engine1885
shifter1904
yarder1911
mill1918
rocket1919
booster1944
monobloc1944
1904 Atlantic Monthly Oct. 499 The shifter..is a little but powerful locomotive..much given to snorting and panting.
c. The gear-change mechanism or control in a motor vehicle. Frequently attributive. North American.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > lever or mechanism for changing gear
gear-lever1904
shifter1910
gear-change1912
shift1914
gear stick1920
shift-lever1920
gear-shift1926
stick1952
shift-stick1968
1910 J. E. Homans Self-propelled Vehicles (ed. 7) xxix. 378 The arm of the sliding gear shifter meets a raised portion of the reverse shaft.
1915 Hobbs & Elliott Gasoline Automobile iii. 67 These two sets [of sliding gears] are operated by two shifter yokes which lead to the gear control lever in the car.
1920 V. W. Pagé Model T Ford Car (new ed.) vii. 341 To stop the motor close the throttle and turn shifter to the horizontal position.
1946 W. H. Crouse Automotive Mech. xvii. 390 A close-up view of the gear selector and shifter rods.
1972 G. V. Higgins Friends Eddie Coyle xiii. 78 ‘How come you got the automatic?.. I'd want the Hurst shifter in it.’ ‘You wouldn't want it once you started buying clutches for it.’
Draft additions 1993
Linguistics. A word whose referent can only be understood from its context.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > types of grammatical reference > word referring to another > which is only understood in context
shifter1922
indicator-word1951
1922 O. Jespersen Lang. vi. 123 A class of words which presents grave difficulty to children are those whose meaning differs according to the situation [e.g. father, home]... Such words may be called shifters.
1962 U. Weinreich in F. W. Householder & S. Saporta Probl. Lexicogr. 38 Another dichotomy is that between symbols and indexes (deictic elements, ‘shifters’, ‘egocentric particulars’).
1977 A. Sheridan tr. J. Lacan Écrits vi. 182 The I, as subject of the sentence in direct style, left in suspense, in accordance with its function as a ‘shifter’, as it is called in linguistics,..itself remained in a state of oscillation.
1980 D. Donoghue in L. Michaels & C. B. Ricks State of Lang. 548 Linguists since Jespersen call such words shifters, words understood only in their contexts; such words as I, you, now, here, tomorrow.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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