piecer

1. (historical, 19th century England) A child employed in a cotton mill or spinning mill to tie together broken threads.Examples: "The piecers follow the frame in its alternate movements, catching up the broken threads, and skilfully reuniting them"; "William Arrol had little schooling, for, at the early age of nine years, he began work as a piecer in a Johnstone cotton-mill."Englandhistoricalobsolete

2. (in combination) An item, especially clothing, made up of the specified number of pieces.Examples: "Outing ‘two-piecers’ that combine style and comfort in phantom-weight flannels, tropical worsteds and serges show the highest register in favoritism, and the Eiseman Bros.’ make, you know, are the universal favorites."; "Girls sit unashamed on the sand with their one-piecers pulled down almost to their waistlines to tempt the coppery tan."; "Jumpers of every type, smart two-piecers."in-compounds