beater

American  

[bee-ter] / ˈbi tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that beats.

2. an implement or device for beating something (usually used in combination).

   the two beaters on an electric mixer;

   an old-fashioned rug beater that loosens dirt with every forceful whack.

3. Slang: Offensive. wifebeater.

4. Informal. an old vehicle that is in poor condition.

   I drive a beater that I bought for $2,000.

5. Hunting. a person who rouses or drives game from cover.

   The beater flushed a covey of grouse.

6. Papermaking. a machine for beating half-stuff to pulp by separating and shortening the fibers to produce a gelatinous mass.

7. Textiles. reed.

8. Newfoundland. a young seal, usually a month to six weeks old, having completely or almost completely shed its initial white fur.

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beater British  

/ ˈbiːtə /

noun

1. a person who beats or hammers

   a panel beater

2. an instrument or device used for beating

   a carpet beater

3. a person who rouses wild game from woodland, undergrowth, etc

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Etymology

Origin of beater

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English beter, better; beat, -er ¹; the seals in beater def. 8 are so named for their beating of the water with their flippers as they learn to swim

Example Sentences

On Sunday Pitino’s fifth-seeded, 30-6 St. John’s eked out a 67-65 buzzer beater over fourth-seed Kansas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

“We went to Yakima, she bought an old beater, fixed it up, and rented some rooms in there,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2024

I didn’t have the cash on hand, and I couldn’t trust putting my family in an old beater.

From Slate • Mar. 9, 2024

JuJu Watkins scored 31 points, including the last seven points of the game and a half-court buzzer beater, during No. 8 USC’s win over Penn State.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2023

She studied hard, she drove the beater truck, and she saved the money from her after-school waitressing gig to fund her escape.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith