n. 1. One who boils. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A vessel in which any thing is boiled. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word boiler is a generic term covering a great variety of kettles, saucepans, clothes boilers, evaporators, coppers, retorts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mech.) A strong metallic vessel, usually of wrought iron plates riveted together, or a composite structure variously formed, in which steam is generated for driving engines, or for heating, cooking, or other purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The earliest steam boilers were usually spheres or sections of spheres, heated wholly from the outside. Watt used the wagon boiler (shaped like the top of a covered wagon) which is still used with low pressures. Most of the boilers in present use may be classified as plain cylinder boilers, flue boilers, sectional and tubular boilers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part containing the flues. --
Boiler plate,
Boiler iron, plate or rolled iron of about a quarter to a half inch in thickness, used for making boilers and tanks, for covering ships, etc. --
Cylinder boiler, one which consists of a single iron cylinder. --
Flue boilers are usually single shells containing a small number of large flues, through which the heat either passes from the fire or returns to the chimney, and sometimes containing a fire box inclosed by water. --
Locomotive boiler, a boiler which contains an inclosed fire box and a large number of small flues leading to the chimney. --
Multiflue boiler. Same as Tubular boiler, below. --
Sectional boiler, a boiler composed of a number of sections, which are usually of small capacity and similar to, and connected with, each other. By multiplication of the sections a boiler of any desired capacity can be built up. --
Tubular boiler, a boiler containing tubes which form flues, and are surrounded by the water contained in the boiler. See Illust. of Steam boiler, under Steam. --
Tubulous boiler. See under Tubulous. See Tube, n., 6, and 1st Flue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sunken reef; esp., a coral reef on which the sea breaks heavily. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a loose protective smock worn over ordinary clothing for dirty work. [ British ]
Syn. -- overall, boilers suit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. bouillerie. ] A place and apparatus for boiling, as for evaporating brine in salt making. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A variety of water-tube boiler, used chiefly in steam automobiles, consisting of a nest of strong tubes with very little water space, kept nearly red hot so that the water as it trickles drop by drop into the tubes is immediately flashed into steam and superheated. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

pos>n. A steam boiler having two flues which contain the furnaces and extend through the boiler from end to end. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A term applied derisively to any literary or artistic work, and esp. a painting, done simply for money and the means of living. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]