dryer (n.)

Middle English drien, from Old English drygan, "make dry, free from water or moisture of any kind," also intransitive, "lose moisture," cognate with Dutch droogen, Low German drügen, from the source of dry (adj.). Related: Dried; drying. Of liquids, "to evaporate," early 14c. Meaning "to wipe (dishes, etc.) dry after washing up" is by 1935. Dry out in the drug addiction sense is from 1967. Dry up "stop talking" is by 1853.

late 15c. (early 14c. as a surname, Dryere; Alic le Dreyster is attested from 1292) "one who dries and bleaches cloth," agent noun from dry (v.). As "that which dries or is used in drying," 1520s. Dryer was used of machines from 1848 (drying-machine is by 1819).