calker
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who caulks: "calker" refers to a worker who seals the seams of a ship or boat to make it watertight, typically using oakum and pitch.
- A tool for caulking: "calker" can also mean a caulking iron or chisel used by such a worker.
- A slang term for a strong drink: In informal usage, "calker" means a large gulp or swallow of strong alcoholic liquor.
Usage Examples
- A person who caulks:
- The calker worked diligently on the hull of the old schooner. (The worker sealed the ship's seams to prevent leaks.)
- A tool for caulking:
- He handed the calker to the apprentice, who used it to tap oakum into the gaps. (The caulking chisel was passed to the learner.)
- A slang term for a strong drink:
- After a long day, he took a calker of whiskey to warm himself. (He drank a large swallow of strong liquor.)
Advanced Usage
- "to calk" (verb): The action of sealing seams, from which "calker" is derived.
- The shipwright taught him how to calk properly. (He learned the technique of sealing joints.)
Variants and Related Words
- Caulker (n): The more common spelling variant of "calker"; both forms are used interchangeably.
- The caulker inspected the deck for cracks before the voyage. (The worker checked for openings needing sealant.)
- Caulking (n): The material or process used to seal seams.
- The caulking around the porthole had dried and cracked. (The sealant material had aged poorly.)
Synonyms
- Sealer: a person or material that closes gaps (e.g., a ship's sealer).
- Shipwright: a skilled worker who builds or repairs ships (broader term than calker).
- Dram: a small drink of strong alcohol (related to the slang meaning).
Related Idioms
- "To take a calker": To drink a large amount of strong liquor quickly.
- He was known to take a calker before every shift. (He would consume a strong drink as a ritual.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Calk up: To seal thoroughly, often used metaphorically.
- The crew had to calk up the entire hull before winter. (They sealed all seams completely.)