knacker

See also Knacker

English

Etymology

Old Norse hnak (“saddle”), hur (“horse”). Profession of saddle maker.

which then became:

Old Irish an each (a horse), pronounced on ack, via an eachoir (a horse dealer), pronounced on ack-ower, anglicised to a knacker.

Pronunciation

• enPR: năkə(r), IPA: /ˈnæk.ə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /"n{k.@(r\)/
• Rhymes: -ækə(r)

Noun

knacker (plural knackers)

1. One who makes knickknacks, toys, etc.
2. One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand; -- called also clapper.
3. a harness maker.
4. One who slaughters and (especially) renders worn-out livestock (especially horses) and sells their flesh, bones and hides.

   1933: After a few years even the whip loses its virtue, and the pony goes to the knacker. -- George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London, Ch. XXII, pg. 117-118 (Harvest / Harcourt paperback edition).

5. One who dismantles old ships, houses etc. and sells their components.
6. (Ireland, UK, offensive) A member of the Travelling Community; gypsies.
7. (Ireland, offensive, slang) A 'chav', 'skanger' or 'scobe', i.e. member of a lower social class.

Translations

• of N°4 : french: équarrisseur; italian: squartatore; spanish: descuartizador

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Translations to be checked

German: Abdecker m. (4)

Derived terms

• knacker's yard

Verb

knacker (third-person singular simple present knackers, present participle knackering, simple past and past participle knackered)

1. To tire out, become exhausted.

   Carrying that giant statue up those stairs knackered me out