▪ I. decker1
(ˈdɛkə(r))
[f. deck v. + -er1.]
One who decks or adorns.
| 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. viii. 167 The Yndians are..greate deckers and trimmers of them selues. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Afeytador, a barber, a trimmer, a decker. 1803 Pic Nic No. 2 (1806) I. 53, I am but a sort of table-decker. |
▪ II. decker2
(ˈdɛkə(r))
[f. deck n.1 + -er1 1.]
1. a. A vessel having (a specified number of) decks, as in two-decker, three-decker, etc., q.v. b. transf. Applied to a kind of oven: see quot. 1884. See also double-decker, single-decker (s.v. single a. 17 b), three-decker, two-decker.
| 1795 Hull Advertiser 25 July 2/4 Admiral Hotham's large ships, that is, the three deckers. 1805 in Naval Chron. XV. 204 The Santissima Trinidada, the Spanish four-decker. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 120/2 Mason's Patent Hot-Air Continuous Baking Two Decker Oven. 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. ‘Extra’ 24 July 3/2 Patent continuous-baking ‘decker’ ovens—i.e., ovens piled upon each other, which are heated by one furnace. |
2. A gun belonging to a particular deck of a ship of war; as in lower-decker, a gun belonging to the lower deck.
| 1781 Archer in Naval Chron. XI. 287 Double breech'd the lower deckers. 1809 Ibid. XXII. 344 Having only fourteen of her main-deckers mounted. |
3. a. A workman employed on the deck of a ship. b. A deck-passenger. colloq.
| 1800 Colquhoun Com. Thames iv. 180 The Deckers, or persons who hoist up the Cargo upon deck. 1866 The Colonist (Belize) 5 May 2/1 Passengers arrived. In the Packet—Mr. and Mrs. D...and 79 deckers. |