caulker

A caulker uses a mallet to seal the seams of a wooden boat.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who caulks: A "caulker" is a worker who seals seams or joints, especially in wooden ships, boats, or buildings, to make them watertight or airtight. This is the primary meaning.
   • A tool used for caulking: A "caulker" can also refer to a tool, such as a chisel or a caulking gun, used to apply or force caulking material into gaps.
   • A strong drink: In slang, a "caulker" means a large swallow of strong alcoholic liquor, especially spirits like rum or whiskey.

Usage Examples

• Noun (person):

  • The old caulker spent years repairing the hull of the fishing vessel. (A worker who sealed the ship's seams.)
  • Before modern sealants, a skilled caulker was essential for every shipyard. (A professional who made ships watertight.)

• Noun (tool):

  • He used a caulker to press the oakum into the wooden planks. (A chisel-like tool for caulking.)
  • The caulker was worn down from years of use. (The tool itself.)

• Noun (slang):

  • He took a caulker of rum to warm himself on the cold night. (A large gulp of strong alcohol.)
  • After a long day, he needed a caulker to relax. (A strong drink.)

Advanced Usage

• "to work as a caulker": to be employed in the trade of sealing ships or buildings.

  • He worked as a caulker in the naval dockyard for decades. (He was a professional ship sealer.)

• "a caulker's chisel": a specific tool used by caulkers.

  • The caulker's chisel was sharp and narrow for fitting into tight seams. (A specialized tool for the trade.)

Variants and Related Words

• Caulk (verb): to seal a seam or joint to make it watertight or airtight.

  • We need to caulk the windows before winter. (To apply sealant.)

• Caulking (noun): the material used to seal seams, or the process of sealing.

  • The caulking around the bathtub is cracked. (The sealant material.)

• Calk (verb, alternate spelling): a less common variant of "caulk."

  • He used tar to calk the boat. (To seal.)

Synonyms

• Sealer: a person or substance that seals.
• Shipwright: a carpenter who builds or repairs ships (though broader in scope).
• Toper: a person who drinks alcohol heavily (slang, for the "strong drink" meaning).

Phrasal Verbs

• Caulk up: to seal completely by caulking.
  • Make sure to caulk up all the gaps in the hull. (To fill and seal every opening.)

Related Idioms

• "To drink a caulker": to consume a large amount of strong liquor quickly.

  • He drank a caulker of whiskey before the storm. (He took a large gulp of strong alcohol.)

• "Caulker's work": meticulous, labor-intensive sealing work.

  • The repair required caulker's work to be truly watertight. (Careful, precise sealing.)