subs. (old).—1. An old horse.
1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O. V. H., xii. Thoroughbred weeds, and a few thoroughbred weight-carriers; half-bred KNACKERS, and half-bred hunters cheap at three figures.
2. (old: now recognised).—A horse-slaughterer.
1839. The Comic Almanack, Sept., 188, ‘A Moloncholy Case.’
| And soon they’ll be onsenseless brutes, without a bit of feeling. | |
| Or else they’ll pine away so fast, the KNACKERS scarce will skin ’em. |
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 189. The cat and dogs-meat dealers … generally purchase the meat at the KNACKERS’ (horse-slaughterers’) yards.
3. In pl. (venery).—The testicles. For synonyms, see CODS.
4. In pl. (stock exchange).—Harrison, Barber, & Co. Ltd. shares. [An amalgamation of horse-slaughterers.]
KNACKER’S BRANDY, subs. phr. (common).—A beating.
