knacker

See also Knacker

English

Etymology

From Old Norse hnak (“saddle”), hur (“horse”) − the profession of saddlemaker.

Pronunciation

• enPR: năkə(r), IPA: /ˈnæk.ə(ɹ)/, X-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; a 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, George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London, Ch. XXII, Harvest / Harcourt paperback edition, pg. 117-118,

     After a few years even the whip loses its virtue, and the pony goes to the knacker

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

Translations

maker of knickknacks

clapper

harness maker

slaughterer

• French: équarrisseur (fr) m
• Italian: squartatore (it) m

• Jèrriais: êquathisseux m
• Spanish: descuartizador (es) m

dismantler of ships, houses, etc.

Traveller, Gypsy

person of lower social class

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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