holder

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One that holds, as:
2. n. One that possesses something; an owner: the holder of extensive farmland; the holder of oil fields.
3. n. One, especially a tenant, that occupies or controls something: The current holder of the apartment.
4. n. Law One that legally possesses and is entitled to the payment of a check, bill, or promissory note.
5. n. A device for holding: a towel holder.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who or that which holds, in any sense of that word. Specifically— In common law, any one in actual or constructive possession of a bill or note, whether as payee, indorsee, or bearer, and entitled, or claiming to be entitled, to recover or receive payment of it.
2. n. Nautical, one who is employed in the hold.
3. n. plural The fangs of a dog.
4. n. plural Sheaves placed as ridges on corn-stacks to hold the corn down before the thatching takes place.

Wiktionary

1. n. A thing that holds.
2. n. A person who temporarily or permanently possesses something.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One who is employed in the hold of a vessel.
2. n. One who, or that which, holds.
3. n. One who holds land, etc., under another; a tenant.
4. n. (Com.) The payee of a bill of exchange or a promissory note, or the one who owns or holds it.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the person who is in possession of a check or note or bond or document of title that is endorsed to him or to whoever holds it
2. n. a person who holds something
3. n. a holding device