knacker — English Dictionary

Noun

1. One who makes knickknacks, toys, etc.

   Synonyms

   toymaker

   Examples

   Near-synonym: toymaker

2. One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand.

   Synonyms

   clapper

   Examples

   A Bachanalian dancing the Spanish Morisco, with knackers at his fingers.

3. A harnessmaker or saddlemaker; their place of business (e.g., saddlery).

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   Plow-wright , Cart-wright, Knacker and Smith

4. One who slaughters and (especially) renders worn-out livestock (especially horses) and sells their flesh, bones and hides.

   Synonyms

   slaughtererslaughterman

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: slaughterer, slaughterman

   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.

   Synonyms

   salvagersalvorscrapperwreckerbreakershipbreakercar breaker

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: salvager, salvor; scrapper, wrecker, breaker; shipbreaker, car breaker

6. An itinerant person, especially one of Irish Traveller heritage.

   Usage

   • Ireland
   • UK usage
   • ethnic
   • Offensive
   • slur

7. A person of lower social class; a chav, skanger, or similar.

   Usage

   • Ireland
   • Offensive
   • Slang

   Synonyms

   dobberscobe

8. A testicle.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • in-plural
   • Slang
   • Vulgar

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   He looked like someone had put a 9mm full metal jacket round through his left scrotum. He even had his mouth open in some parody of a soundless scream, much as I imagined I would do if someone shot my left knacker off.

9. An old, worn-out horse.

   Examples

   Believe me, you can get an old knacker for cheap at the glue yard, but it won't carry you as far as a thoroughbred!

10. A collier's horse.

    Usage

    • UK usage
    • dialectal
    • Obsolete

Verb

1. To tire out, exhaust; to beat up and use up (something), leaving it worn out and damaged.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Slang
   • Transitive

   Examples

   Carrying that giant statue up those stairs completely knackered me.

   That table that I was going to put the statue on may not suffice, as it's completely knackered.

2. To reprimand.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Slang
   • Transitive

Noun

1. someone who buys old buildings or ships and breaks them up to recover the materials in them

   Broader terms

   wrecker

2. someone who buys up old horses for slaughter

   Broader terms

   butcherslaughterer