\Wast"er\, n. [OE. wastour, OF. wasteor, gasteor. See
{Waste}, v. t.]
1. One who, or that which, wastes; one who squanders; one who
   consumes or expends extravagantly; a spendthrift; a
   prodigal.
         He also that is slothful in his work is brother to
         him that is a great waster.           --Prov. xviii.
                                               9.
         Sconces are great wasters of candles. --Swift.
2. An imperfection in the wick of a candle, causing it to
   waste; -- called also a {thief}. --Halliwell.
3. A kind of cudgel; also, a blunt-edged sword used as a
   foil.
         Half a dozen of veneys at wasters with a good fellow
         for a broken head.                    --Beau. & Fl.
         Being unable to wield the intellectual arms of
         reason, they are fain to betake them unto wasters.
                                               --Sir T.
                                               Browne.