in commercial polity, a person who has the management of the affairs of a trading company; thus we say, the directors of the India company, Southsea company, &c. See Company.

The directors are considerable proprietors in the stocks of their respective companies, being chosen by plurality of votes from among the body of proprietors. The Dutch East India company have 60 such directors; that of France, 21; the British East India company has 24, including the chairman, who may be re-elected for four years successively. These last have salaries of £50l. a-year each, and the chairman £200l. They meet at least once a-week, and commonly oftener, being summoned as occasion requires. The directors of the Bank of England are 24 in number, including governor and deputy governor.

in surgery, a grooved probe, to direct the edge of the knife or scissors in opening sinuses or fistula, that by this means the adjacent vessel, nerves, and tendons, may remain unhurt. See Surgery.