— canvasser , n.
/kan"veuhs/ , v.t.
1. to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
2. to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.
v.i.
3. to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.
n.
4. a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.
5. a campaign for election to government office.
6. close inspection; scrutiny.
[ 1500-10; orig. sp. var. of CANVAS, as a v.; sense "discuss" appar. development of the earlier senses "toss in a canvas sheet," "harshly criticize"; sense "solicit votes" obscurely derived ]
Syn. 2. analyze, scrutinize, explore.