knocker
nounUK /ˈnɒk.ə/ · US /ˈnɑk.ɚ/
Etymology From knock + -er.
13 senses
- 1A device, usually hinged with a striking plate, used for…
- 2A person who knocks.
- 3A critic; one who disparages.
- 4A person who knocks (denigrates) something.
- 5A person's breast, especially if large.
- 6A dwarf, goblin, or sprite imagined to dwell in mines…
- 7A mechanical device in a pinball table that produces a…
- 8A person who is strikingly handsome or otherwise…
- 9A large cockroach, especially Blaberus giganteus, of…
- 10A large, boulder-shaped outcrop of bedrock in an…
- 11One who defaults on payment of a wager.
- 12A gun.
- 13An undercover policeman.
A device, usually hinged with a striking plate, used for knocking on a door.
- Knockers in this part of the world seem intended for ornament only, — nobody seems to pay any attention to them when they’re used.1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:
- His tongue became a staircase, his uvula the knocker / Of an ornate wooden door that led me straight into my future2016 August 18, Ben Gallaty, “Small Red Boy”, in The Bible 2, performed by AJJ:
A person who knocks.
- He was a loud knocker. Despite my usual timidity, after a bit I opened the door.1963, Patrick Anderson, The Character Ball: Chapters of Autobiography, page 220:
A critic; one who disparages.
- "I try to give everybody credit," declared the old man. "I am not a knocker. I am not too good for this world."1947, Saul Bellow, The Victim:
Derogatory, Informal A person who knocks (denigrates) something.
Plural normally, Slang A person's breast, especially if large.
Archaic, In South Wales A dwarf, goblin, or sprite imagined to dwell in mines and to indicate the presence of ore by knocking.
Especially Cardigan
A mechanical device in a pinball table that produces a loud percussive noise to signal that a free game has been earned.
- A good game needs color, lights, bells, gongs, and knockers, all to assure the player he is making progress[…]1963, Harper's magazine, volume 226:
A large cockroach, especially Blaberus giganteus, of semitropical America, which is able to produce a loud knocking sound.
Slang One who defaults on payment of a wager.
- To the consternation of those who believed that bookies were 'knockers' (defaulters), he paid his losses with alacrity […]2004, Carl Chinn, Better Betting with a Decent Feller, page 48:
Slang A gun.
Eastern African-American Vernacular
- Lay down on that 'Tussin, I think I'ma snooze (Like, like what?) We keep knockers like this shit essential .22 long rifles, these bullets like pencils Homicide, bodies drop when we bend through2021 March 18, “Brotherly Love” (track 3, 1:01 from the start), in Dougie B (lyrics), The D.O.A. Tape:
- Last opper we caught had to pop 'em, shouldn't've left out his crib without knockers2022 February 22, “Keep a Blixky” (track 10, 1:05 from the start), in The Blixky Tape 2 (Deluxe):
1 more example
- Dotty my holster, totin on this knocker (Grrah, grrah) If we see the'Ds, bitch, move proper2022 October 31, “Doomsday” (track 7, 1:53 from the start), in Kay Flock (lyrics), F L O C K A:
Slang An undercover policeman.
Eastern African-American Vernacular
- The knockers around better do what I say so2019 December 31, “Draco” (0:33 from the start), Chris Èlite (lyrics):
- Derived terms
29 terms
apple-knocker, black as Newgate's knocker, bommy knocker, cock knocker, cock-knocker, doorknocker, door knocker, fartknocker, fart knocker, fart-knocker, knockerless, knockers, knocker-up, knocker up, knocker-upper, Newgate knocker, nigger knocker, nigger-knocker, on the knocker, pork knocker, pork-knocker, ring knocker, saggar maker's bottom knocker, slobber knocker, slobber-knocker, snow knocker, tin knocker, tommyknocker, up to the knocker