Feeder /(?)/

Feed·er

Feeder

n.
  1. One who, or that which, gives food or supplies nourishment; steward.
    A couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder.
  2. One who furnishes incentives; an encourager.
  3. One who eats or feeds; specifically, an animal to be fed or fattened.
    With eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder.
  4. One who fattens cattle for slaughter.
  5. A stream that flows into another body of water; a tributary; specifically (Hydraulic Engin.), a water course which supplies a canal or reservoir by gravitation or natural flow. (Hydraulic Engin.)
  6. A branch railroad, stage line, air route, or the like; a side line which increases the business of the main line.
  7. A small lateral lode falling into the main lode or mineral vein. (Mining)
  8. An auxiliary part of a machine which supplies or leads along the material operated upon. (Mach.)
  9. A device for supplying steam boilers with water as needed. (Steam Engine)