time-killern.
/ˈtʌɪmˌkɪlə/, U.S. /ˈtaɪmˌkɪlər/ Originally: a person who kills or seeks to kill time (see kill v. 5). Later also: a pastime, occupation, etc., by means of which one may kill time.
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the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > [noun] > killing time > one who
time-killera1726
temporicidea1876
a1726 J. Vanbrugh Journey to London (1728) ii. i. 29 I once thought myself a tolerable Time-killer; I drank, I play'd, I intrigu'd.
1751 S. Richardson Rambler No. 97. 579 Another seasonable Relief to those Modern Timekillers.
1800 Monthly Mag. Mar. 170/1 Questions of this kind, though mere puzzle-caps and time-killers to the frivolous, are, to the reasoning part of mankind, topics of instructive recreation.
1895 Outing 26 427/2 Reading it with the idle interest of a time-killer.
1944 W. L. Moore in L. Warfield Fighting Words 92 Connelly was coming to look upon shore patrol as merely a time-killer.
2010 T. Rachman Imperfectionists 151 Entre nous, this gig is just a time-killer for me. I'll be out of here in a year max.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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