Knacker

Knacker

A knacker is a person in the trade of rendering animals that are unfit for human consumption, such as horses that can no longer work. [ [http://knackerman.com/ What is a Knackerman] knackerman.com, undated (accessed 18 February,2007)] This leads to the slang expression "knackered" meaning very tired, or "ready for the knacker’s yard", where old horses are slaughtered and made into dog food and glue. A knacker's yard or knackery is where this takes place, as opposed to a slaughterhouse, where animals are slaughtered for human food.

Use of term

The term is used in this literal sense in British English and Irish English, and gained some notoriety during the outbreak of mad cow disease (BSE) in the United Kingdom. The "Slaughterhouses Act" 1974, the "Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations" 1982 and the "Food Act" 1984 all have a definition of a 'knacker's yard' as "any premises used in connection with the business of slaughtering, skinning or cutting up animals whose flesh is not intended for human consumption".

The remains are often used for pet food products or certain fertilizers. The kinds of animal processing which can occur at knackeries are defined by law, for example, in Australia by the Commonwealth "Meat Inspection Act" 1983. [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/mia1983170/index.htm "Meat Inspection Act" 1983 (Cth)] ]

Slang

"Knackered" meaning tired, exhausted or broken in British and Irish slang is still commonly used in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. "Knackers" is also British/Australasian slang for testicles [ e.g. Thomas in "The Virgin Soldiers" ] .

The term "knacker" is sometimes used in Ireland to denote an Irish Traveller, though it is considered extremely pejorative. It can also be applied to a rural character equivalent to the urban or scumbag which are both derogatory terms in themselves.

It can also be used to refer to tiredness after sexual intercourse.

The British satirical magazine "Private Eye" often refers to senior police figures as "Inspector Knacker" or the police force in general as "Knacker of The Yard", a reference to Jack "Slipper of the Yard" Slipper.

References


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  • Knacker — Sm (meist alter Knacker alter Mann, Geizhals ) erw. stil. phras. (20. Jh.) Stammwort. Benennungsmotiv unklar. Vielleicht bei dem man die Knochen knacken hört , also eine vulgäre Bezeichnung im Sinne von Skelett . Vgl. Kracke. deutsch d …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • knacker — (v.) usually in past tense, knackered, to kill, castrate (1855), but most often used in weakened sense of to tire out (1883); apparently from knacker (n.) worn out or useless horse, 1812, of unknown origin; possibly from a dialectal survival of a …   Etymology dictionary

  • knacker — Brit. ► NOUN 1) a person who disposes of dead or unwanted animals. 2) (knackers) vulgar slang testicles. ► VERB informal ▪ exhaust; wear out. DERIVATIVES knackered adjective. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • Knacker — Knack er, n. 1. One who makes knickknacks, toys, etc. Mortimer. [1913 Webster] 2. One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand; called also {clapper}. Halliwell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Knacker — Knack er, n. [Cf. Icel. hnakkr a saddle.] 1. a harness maker. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. [1913 Webster] 2. One who slaughters worn out horses and sells their flesh for dog s meat. [Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Knacker — Knacker,der:1.⇨Greis–2.alterK.:⇨Greis …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • knacker — [nak′ər] n. [Early ModE, harness maker < ON hnakker, saddle, neck, akin to OE hnecca,NECK] Brit. 1. a person who buys and slaughters worn out horses and sells their flesh as dog s meat, etc. 2. a person who buys and wrecks old houses, etc. and …   English World dictionary

  • knacker — knack|er [ˈnækə US ər] v [T] BrE spoken informal [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: knacker horse killer ; KNACKERS YARD] 1.) to become extremely tired = ↑exhaust knacker yourself (out) ▪ Slow down you ll knacker yourself out! 2.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • knacker — also knacker out verb (T) BrE spoken 1 to become extremely tired: knacker yourself out: Slow down you ll knacker yourself out! 2 knacker your elbow/hand etc to hurt your elbow etc so that you cannot use it …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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