-chə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English serchere, from serchen to search + -ere -er — more at search
1. : one that searches
a searcher after knowledge
2. : a person (as an inspector, looker, tracer) employed to search: as
a. : a guild official formerly functioning as an inspector to maintain standards of workmanship and quality
b. : an officer of the customs who examines (as ships, merchandise, luggage) for dutiable goods or contraband
c. archaic Britain : coroner
d.
(1) archaic : a civil officer appointed to observe and report objectionable conduct
(2) : a minor police officer appointed to search persons arrested
e. : a person employed (as by a title insurance company) to search public records
f. : a kosher examiner who looks for evidence of contamination in freshly killed animals
3. : an implement (as a probe) used in searching : seeker
4. : a large metallic blue-green No. American ground beetle ( Calosoma scrutator ) that feeds on caterpillars