RUNNER

noun Date: 14th century 1. one that runs ; racer , base ~ , ballcarrier , 2. messenger , one that smuggles or distributes illicit or contraband goods (as drugs, liquor, or guns), any of several large vigorous carangid fishes, 4. either of the longitudinal pieces on which a sled or sleigh slides, the part of a skate that slides on the ice ; blade , the support of a drawer or a sliding door, 5. an elongated horizontal root arising from the base of a plant, a plant (as a strawberry) that forms or spreads by means of ~s, a twining vine (as a scarlet ~ bean), 6. a long narrow carpet for a hall or staircase, a narrow decorative cloth cover for a table or dresser top, an adjustable backstay running from mast to rail on a sail boat or ship, a running shot in basketball