pigsticker
(ˈpɪgˌstɪkə(r))
[f. pigsticking: see -er1.]
a. One who follows the sport of pigsticking.
| 1866 Trevelyan in Fraser's Mag. LXXIII. 387, I may be a young pig-sticker, but I am too old a sports⁓man to make such a mistake as that. 1889 Athenæum 24 Aug. 255/1 The courage, horsemanship, and skill with his spear required in the pigsticker. |
b. A horse trained to pigsticking.
| 1900 Sir J. Fayrer Recollect. iii. 62, I bought a horse, a well-known pig-sticker. |
c. A sharp implement or weapon, as a lance, bayonet, knife, etc. slang.
| 1890 Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang II. 129/1 Pigsticker (army), sabre. 1895 Funk's Stand. Dict., Pigsticker..3. A boar-spear. 4. (Slang.) A large pocket-knife. 1902 Farmer & Henley Slang V. 198/2 Pig-sticker... 2. (common).—A long-bladed pocket-knife; and (3) a sword. 1918 C. J. Swan My Company viii. 129 All this time the steel pigsticker was resting on his rotund stomach with the rifle behind it cocked. 1941 J. Smiley Hash House Lingo 43 Pig sticker, carving knife. 1964 G. L. Coon Short End 242, I had awful visions of somebody clinging to the business end of that pig sticker of mine. 1978 A. Melville-Ross Blindfold xxx. 191 Trelawney crossed to the far wall, yanked the knife from it... ‘You'll hand over that pig-sticker and come home with uncle.’ |
d. A butcher of swine (cf. pigsticking 2). dial. and slang.
| 1886 H. Baumann Londinismen 138/1 Pig-sticker..scherzhaft: Schweineschlächter. 1895 in Funk's Stand. Dict. 1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise i. 12 The travelling pork butcher, or pig-sticker. 1948 Amer. Speech XXIII. 317/2 Pig sticker, man who bleeds hogs. |