▪ I. docker1
(ˈdɒkə(r))
[f. dock n.3 + -er1.]
1. A dweller in or near a dock; spec. an inhabitant of Devonport, formerly Plymouth Dock.
| 1762 Johnson in Boswell Life Visit Devonsh., I am against the Dockers: I am a Plymouth-man. 1870 R. N. Worth Hist. Devonport ix. 100 The oldest living Docker. |
2. A labourer in the docks.
| 1887 Pall Mall G. 19 Sept. 2/2 A trade union for dockers. 1889 Times 11 Dec. 9/3 Gross intimidation during the dockers' strike. |
▪ II. ˈdocker2
[f. dock v.1 and v.3 + -er1.]
1. One who docks the tails of horses, etc.
| 1810 Sporting Mag. XXXV. 263 Croppers, dockers, nickers and trimmers. 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. iii, You..mane-and-tail docker. |
2. A stamp used for ‘docking’ or perforating the dough for biscuits.
| 1874 in Knight Dict. Mech. |
▪ III. ˈdocker3
[f. dock n.4 + -er1.]
(See quot.)
| 1889 in Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang. 1891 Strand Mag. II. 89/1 Many young advocates do a brisk trade in what are termed ‘dockers’. 1892 Pall Mall G. 28 Jan. 6/1 Dock cases, ‘dockers’, as they are called—cases in which you are retained by the prisoner in the dock. 1928 Daily Tel. 17 Jan. 10/6 A dock brief... Sometimes it is called a ‘docker’. |