knocker-upper en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
By a regular pattern for (informal) nouns seen also in similar forms, such as fixer-upper and cleaner-upper; the sire sense involves an extra degree of wordplay, as an alternative surface analysis of knock (h)er up + -er is playfully apparent (who knocked 'er up?).
Meanings
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(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of knocker-up (person who knocks to awaken in the morning).
alt of knocker-up
In 1876, a knocker-upper on rounds in Bradford spotted a 2 a.m. house fire and saved a sleeping family.
2026 March 13, Ellsworth Toohey, “The long history of waking people up before alarm clocks”, in BoingBoing, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2026:
- (in coopering, qualifier:a tool to hammer the top head of a cask into place through the bung hole) .
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(humorous, informal) The male who has sired a pregnancy.
What, Shelley is pregnant?! Who's the knocker-upper? [ = Who's the father?]
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| knocker-uppers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
sire · dad · father · baby daddy · daddy
Translations (1)
fr engrosseur (male who has sired a pregnancy)