televisor meaning (dated): definition, etymology and quotations

televisor

noun

Etymology Probably partly from televis(ion) + -or, and partly (in sense 2) from televise + -or. Appears to have been coined by the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird (1888–1936) in 1926 or earlier. A genericized trademark.

Dated A television set.

Sometimes non-native speakers' English

Maybe, I am not yet mad but somewhat hypersensitive. So I prefer to make use of a TFT display and threw my televisor away in order to avoid getting red eyes.1997 November 20, eckard blumschein, “Going Insane”, in alt.sci.physics.acoustics (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:
"Cheesy" is the word that comes to mind when his glad-handing mug pops up on the televisor screen...2009 May 3, Gregory Morrow, “Don't Call It Swine Flu !!!”, in rec.food.cooking (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:

1 more example

bringing this back around, I have been in and out all AM shoveling my driveway, sidewalk, deck, etc. so that the sun can burn all the snow off, so I haven't been watching the televisor...2010 January 31, N8N, “Green viatology -- consider your environment!”, in ne.transportation (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:

Dated, Historical A (later partly) mechanical such apparatus, largely superseded during the 1930s by wholly electronic ones; originally and especially, one designed and patented by the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird (1888–1936).

Sometimes non-native speakers' English

An actual demonstration of television was given in London by means of the “Baird Televisor,” the invention of Mr. J. L. Baird, a young Glasgow electrical engineer. People standing in front of the transmitting televisor were seen and recognised by friends on the receiving televisor in another part of the building.1926 April 28, “Seeing by Wireless”, in Liverpool Echo, last city edition, number 14,456, Liverpool, Lancashire, →OCLC, page 5, column 5:
A man stands up and switches on a televisor and everybody listens.1935, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “World Audience”, in Things to Come: A Film Story […], London: The Cresset Press […], →OCLC, page 119:

1 more example

The BBC refused to be drawn by arguments that more facilities for television would result in more televisors being sold, which would be in the interests of Britain and the British Empire, or by comparisons with the situation in USA, and also in Germany, where the Baird company was already fairly comfortably entrenched.2002, Antony Kamm, Malcolm Baird, “Sound and Vision 1929-1930”, in John Logie Baird: A Life, Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland Publishing, →ISBN, page 150:

Archaic One who works in the television industry, e.g., a presenter, broadcaster, or telecaster.

Several other name acts and bands have been invited to appear with Sullivan but allegedly refused. They must have believed, as his critics are saying, that the stars are appearing on the program for Eddie Sullivan, the Broadway columnist[,] and not Sullivan the “televisor” who is the same person.1948 July 17, “[Eddie] Sullivan’s Tactics on Television Attacked”, in Chicago Defender, national edition, volume XLIV, number 14, Chicago, Ill.: Robert S[engstacke] Abbott Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 9, column 2:
THE MARRIAGE BUREAU, […] Principal HEATHER JENNER, Televisor, Broadcaster, Writer on Marriage.1966 September 2, “Public Notices”, in The Haddingtonshire Courier, number 5575, Haddington, East Lothian, →OCLC, page 2, column 5:

2 more examples

How do you make certain that everyone who wants to see the Iowa-Iowa State football game gets to do so? Our governor, ever sensitive to the voice of the people, has unleashed his heavy artillery, turning the full force of his persuasive powers on the ABC [American Broadcasting Company] televisors to convince them this historic occasion is worthy of their attention.1977 March 28, “Statewide crisis looms”, in Globe-Gazette, volume 117, number 40, Mason City, Ia., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 10 (Opinion Page), column 1:
The station announcer, asking the performer to stand before the televisor, will say before the microphone that Mr. So-and-so is being televised.2004, Michael Ashley, Robert A. W. Lowndes, The Gernsback Days:

An organization that makes or broadcasts television programs.

Gary 3:16 "There was once thy BBC F1 [Formula One] televisor, moving to ITV so Bernie got a few more sheckels.[…]"1998 November 16, [Gary] <gobrien@eudoramail.com>, uk.media.tv.misc (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:
As for the BBC, they are officially the worst televisors of rugby I've yet seen.2003 August 17, John Williams, “"If Johnny missed two or three kicks there'd be a national inquiry"”, in rec.sport.rugby.union (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:

2 more examples

Lots of people want to be on TV or in the movies or play pro baseball, but the top performers or players are, to say the least, paid very well. I think market forces might help -- competing poker televisors offering incentives to play in their events.2004 February 18, wrap, “to Erik Seidel”, in rec.gambling.poker (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2026:
It’s a bit difficult, isn’t it? It’s a bit hard to know who the AFL [Australian Football League] are trying to satisfy. They’ve got to satisfy the gap that’s not going to be there for the NAB Cup, so the sponsors probably want something and the televisors want something.2013 October 31, Emma Quayle, Rohan Connolly, quoting Neil Balme, “[Heath] Shaw won’t take risk in exhibition game”, in The Canberra Times, Canberra, A.C.T., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 29: