Definition of "dethatcher"

You can also rent a power dethatcher from a tool rental company. Have them teach you how to start and run the dethatcher; most are operated much like a lawn mower.

1987, Lawn & garden, page 87

The dethatcher has blades that cut perpendicular to the lawn, thereby removing the dead debris called thatch, which can easily build up in a lawn.

1988, Stefan Buczacki, Conran's basic book of home gardening

While you can remove thatch from small areas with a metal garden rake or hand cultivator, you ought to rent a dethatcher for working over large areas of grass.

1998, Landscape Projects