English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-1912)
"The lister carefully washed his hands and instruments before performing surgery, following the revolutionary techniques introduced by Lord Lister."
assessor who makes out the tax lists
"The town appointed an experienced lister to compile the annual property tax rolls before spring."
moldboard plow with a double moldboard designed to move dirt to either side of a central furrow
"The farmer used an old lister to plant potatoes in two parallel rows while leaving the center bare."
A spear armed with three or more prongs, for striking fish.
"The farmer used an old lister to plant corn directly into deep furrows, saving both labor and seed."
One who, or that which, lists or produces a listing.
A double-mouldboard plough that throws a deep furrow and at the same time plants and covers grain in the bottom of the furrow.
In plain English: A lister is someone who makes lists of things to remember or do later.
"The lister carefully added every new item to her shopping inventory before going home."
Usage: In modern usage, "lister" almost exclusively refers to an agricultural implement designed to plow and plant crops simultaneously in one pass. Avoid confusing this specific farming tool with the more common term for someone who creates a list of items.
An occupational surname, from occupations for a textile dyer.
"The genealogist traced the family name Lister back to an ancestor who worked as a textile dyer in the 17th century."
The word lister comes from combining the verb list with the agent suffix -er. It originally referred to a person or thing that lists items, keeping its core meaning as someone who makes a written record of things in order.