Definition of "finisher"

He that of greatest works is finisherOft does them by the weakest minister […]

c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]

[…] let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith […]

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Hebrews 12:1-2

If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.

1838, Abraham Lincoln, The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions: Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois‎, Springfield, Illinois

A thundering right to the head bent him back over the ropes, and then, just as I was setting myself for the finisher, I felt somebody jerking my pants leg […]

1934 June, Robert E. Howard, “General Ironfist”, in Jack Dempsey's Fight Magazine

Tie Up Fallaway Slam (Finisher)

1999, BradyGames, Secret Codes for Sega Dreamcast

Shadow Kick (OO+O) is best used as a punishing move and a combo finisher.

2002, Ben Cureton, Paul Edwards, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance™ Official Strategy Guide

After suffering a broken leg in a challenge from Stoke's Ryan Shawcross in 2010, the goal allowed Ramsey to put a positive slant on this fixture and show how he is evolving into a composed finisher.

2013 September 22, Alistair Magowan, “Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City”, in BBC‎

As such, when Doncic was on the court, Brunson was a secondary facilitator and more of a finisher than a creator.

2022 October 19, Andre Snellings, “Fantasy basketball: Why Jalen Brunson can be even better in New York”, in ESPN‎

[Eddie] Jones has used his bench as finishers and repeated last year’s ploy that helped overcome France when he brought on Ben Te’o for [George] Ford. [Dylan] Hartley and [Mike] Brown had already gone off, along with [Nathan] Hughes, whose replacement Sam Underhill was making an impact at the breakdown when he was sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle on Barclay.

2018 February 24, Paul Rees, “Finn Russell masterminds historic Scotland victory over England”, in The Guardian‎, London, archived from the original on 22 April 2018