Definition of "hunter"

thy intercepter, full of despite, bloody as the hunter, attends thee at the orchard end

c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene iv]

‘His favourite Hunter who was turned out in the park on his going abroad, somehow or other fell ill […] .’

c. 1792–3, Jane Austen, ‘Catharine, or The Bower’, Juvenilia

a sound, swift, well-bred hunter and roadster

1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859

No one, however, thought of the haughty and secluded young gentleman who […] when he rode on his black hunter into Dublin, avoided the village, and took the high-road by Inchicore.

1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Church-yard. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley, Brothers, […]

Henry, laughing, spurs away his hunter under the dripping trees.

2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate, published 2010, page 480

You know right well, how meek soe'er he seem, / No keener hunter after glory breathes.

1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Elaine”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], page 155

Although their behavior does not have the same impact as hunters, howlers nevertheless distract the public figure and compel security and law enforcement […]

2008, J. Reid Meloy, Lorraine Sheridan, Jens Hoffmann, Stalking, Threatening, and Attacking Public Figures, page 121

Hunters stalk their targets, make detailed plans, acquire and practice with weapons, and try to hurt or kill people. Howlers make bomb threats to schools, malls, churches, businesses, and government offices.

2015, Steve Albrecht, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities