cheeker

English

Etymology

cheek +‎ -er

Noun

cheeker (plural cheekers)

1. (horse-riding) A rubber ring that holds the bit high in the horse's mouth.
   • 1999, Carloyn Henderson, Snaffles:

     The Australian cheeker is used in conjunction with a snaffle on hardpulling horses.

2. (rare, obsolete or historical) A butcher who specifically processes cheek meat.
   • 1915, Walter Barlow Stevens, Missouri the center state: 1821-1915, page 608:

     Then there is a "cheeker" which takes the meat off the cheek.

   • 1922, Wages and Hours of Labor in the Slaughtering and Meat-packing Industry, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics:

     Cheekers cut or trim the cheek meat from heads.

   • 2006, Roger Horowitz, Putting Meat on the American Table: Taste, Technology, Transformation:

     Butchers such as cheekers and belly trimmers held a series of positions paying 22 cents to 32½ cents.

See also

• bit lifter