taster

Meanings

1. An object in which, or by which, food or drink is tasted, such as a small cup.
2. Someone who tastes something; especially, either (1) to check its quality (in food science, winemaking, etc.) or (2) as a security measure to prevent assassination of a protectee.
3. A kind of zooid situated on the polyp-stem of certain Siphonophorae, resembling the feeding zooids, but destitute of mouths.
4. A sample of something bigger or grander intended for future use.
5. A person who is, by genetic makeup, able to taste phenylthiocarbamide.

Etymology

From Middle English taster; equivalent to taste + -er.