feeler

see definition of feeler

nounanything that investigates by touch

nounan effort to discover opinion

Synonyms for feeler

noun anything that investigates by touch

bristle

noun. short, prickly hair

bristles

noun. short, prickly hair

digit

noun. small appendage of animate being

finger

noun. appendage of hand

fingers

noun. appendage of hand

Word Origin & History

early 15c., "one who feels," agent noun from feel (v.). Of animal organs, 1660s. Transferred sense of "proposal put forth to observe the reaction it gets" is from 1830. Related: Feelers.

Example Sentences for feeler

"I see you have Diablo entered for the Brooklyn," Faust put out as a feeler.

Roll in dried and powdered coral, and put a piece of feeler in each.

He expected to feel the jerk of the electric shock of the feeler.

Just a feeler of Frémont's—his army's three miles over there in the woods.

Note the knob on the end of the butterfly's feeler (Fig. 143).

"They are saying good-bye to each other, now," said Tom, by way of a feeler.

It was just a feeler, but the woman didn't even answer to that.

Ted glanced keenly at his companion, for he had made the remark as a sort of feeler.

"But I don't like doing that sort of thing," she went on, throwing out a feeler.

Look here, Mac, d'you think you could put out a feeler for us?