Pre*vent"er (?), n.
1.
One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
2.
One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.
3. Naut.
An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast.
Preventer bolts, ∨ Preventer plates Naut., fixtures connected with preventers to reenforce other rigging. -- Preventer stay. Naut. Same as Preventer, 3.
© Webster 1913.