The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Holder \Hold"er\, n.
   One who is employed in the hold of a vessel.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Holder \Hold"er\, n.
   1. One who, or that which, holds.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who holds land, etc., under another; a tenant.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Com.) The payee of a bill of exchange or a promissory
      note, or the one who owns or holds it.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Holder is much used as the second part of a compound;
         as, shareholder, officeholder, stockholder,etc.
         [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

holder
    n 1: a holding device; "a towel holder"; "a cigarette holder";
         "an umbrella holder"
    2: a person who holds something; "they held two hostages"; "he
       holds the trophy"; "she holds a United States passport"
    3: 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; "the bond was marked `payable to bearer'" [syn: holder,
       bearer]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

44 Moby Thesaurus words for "holder":
   accepter, acquirer, addressee, audience, auditor, beholder,
   bracket, candelabrum, candlestand, candlestick, chandelier,
   consignee, container, enjoyer, gas fixture, getter, girandole,
   have, haver, hearer, keeper, lamp holder, lampstand, light fixture,
   light socket, listener, looker, obtainer, payee, possessor,
   procurer, receiver, receptacle, recipient, sconce, spectator,
   taker, torch holder, torch staff, trustee, utensil, vessel, viewer,
   wall bracket