trier

plural triers · alternative tryer

1. One who tries; one who makes experiments or examines anything by a test or standard.

   […] I had once brought me a certain Earth, by a Gentleman that digg'd it up in this, or ſome neighboring Country, vvhich, though it ſeem'd but a Mineral Earth, did really afford, to a very expert tryer of Metals of my acquaintance, a not deſpicable proportion of Gold.

   1663, Robert Boyle, “Essay V. Proposing Some Particulars wherein Natural Philosophy may be Useful to the Therapeutical Part of Physick.”, in Some Considerations Touching the Vsefulnesse of Experimental Naturall Philosophy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Hen[ry] Hall printer to the University, for Ric[hard] Davis, →OCLC, part II, section I (Of It’s Usefulness to Physick), chapter III, page 132

2. An instrument used for sampling something.

   The judge should grasp the butter trier firmly in hand and insert the sampling device as near as possible to the center of the butter sample.

   2009, Stephanie Clark, Michael Costello, Floyd Bodyfelt, The Sensory Evaluation of Dairy Products, page 145

3. One who tries judicially.
4. lawA person appointed by law to try challenges of jurors; a trior.
5. obsoleteThat which tries or approves; a test.

   Nay, mother, / Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd / To say, extremity was the trier of spirits

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

plural Triers · alternative Triers

1. countableuncountableA city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the banks of the Moselle river.
2. countableuncountableA habitational surname from German.

   Synonyms: Treves