weeder

plural weeders

1. An agricultural worker who removes weeds.

   Help me to become a pure waterer, weeder, and deadheader of our little plot, to mature from manic bride and bonnarder to the calm, the jen, of deep and ancient garden wifedom.

   2011, Marjorie Sandor, The Late Interiors: A Life Under Construction, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   If these plants are young, the weeders do not see them; and in this case, when they grow larger, the land must be again weeded. But the small plants, which are not less prejudicial, such as the wild Fitch, the wild Oat, Darnel, Fennel-flower, Knot-grass, Restharrow, Fox-tail, the several sorts of Bindweed, (Convolvulus) and all the small Poppies, remain in the field.

   1764, Duhamel du Monceau, translated by Philip Miller, The Elements of Agriculture, volume 1, page 265

   That strength of body is often equal to the courage of mind implanted in the fair sex, will not be denied by those who have seen the water-women of Plymouth; the female drudges of Ireland, Wales, and Scotland; the fish-women of Billinsgate; the weeders, podders, and hoppers, who swarm the fields; and the lowest beings of the feminine gender wo swagger in the streets of London.

   1778, T. S., “Proposals for raising Female Regiments”, in The Lady's Magazine Or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, volume 9, page 584

2. A tool used to remove weeds.

   (She told me I must buy a swoe, a long-handled weeder sold by Fiskars, that changed her life.)

   2007 July 26, Anne Raver, “Recognizing Those Who Keep Brooklyn in Bloom”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 07 Jan 2021

3. abbreviationellipsiseducationEllipsis of weeder class or weeder course.

   Weeders are often the first barrier to entry into certain professional careers for students. The most famous example is being “weeded-out” of the pre-med track.

   2024 September 16, Opinion Department, “TIAS | It’s Time to Weed Out Weeder Courses”, in The Cornell Daily Sun, archived from the original on 10 Jun 2025