wrecker

wrecker
/rek"euhr/, n.
1. a person or thing that wrecks.
2. a person, car, or train employed in removing wreckage, debris, etc., as from railroad tracks.
3. Also called tow car, tow truck. a vehicle equipped with a mechanical apparatus for hoisting and pulling, used to tow wrecked, disabled, or stalled automobiles.
4. Also called housewrecker. a person whose business it is to demolish and remove houses or other buildings, as in clearing sites for other use.
5. a person or vessel employed in recovering salvage from wrecked or disabled vessels.
6. a person who plunders wrecks, esp. after exhibiting false signals in order to cause shipwrecks.
[1795-1805; WRECK + -ER1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • wrecker — [rekər] n. 1. a person or thing that wrecks 2. a person who causes ruin, obstruction, or disruption of any kind; specif., a person using false lights, etc. to lead ships to destruction in order to plunder the wreckage 3. a person, car, train,… …   English World dictionary

  • Wrecker — Wreck er, n. 1. One who causes a wreck, as by false lights, and the like. [1913 Webster] 2. One who searches fro, or works upon, the wrecks of vessels, etc. Specifically: (a) One who visits a wreck for the purpose of plunder. (b) One who is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wrecker — index vandal Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • wrecker — (n.) 1804, in reference to those who salvage cargos from wrecked ships, from WRECK (Cf. wreck) (n.). In Britain often with a overtones of one who causes a shipwreck in order to plunder it (1820); but in 19c. Bahamas and the Florida Keys it could… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Wrecker — The Wrecker, wrecker or wrecking may refer to:* Wrecking (shipwreck) is the practice of taking valuables from a shipwreck which has foundered near or close to shore * Wrecker (comics) is a Marvel Comics supervillain * Wrecking (Soviet crime) was… …   Wikipedia

  • wrecker — UK [ˈrekə(r)] / US [ˈrekər] noun [countable] Word forms wrecker : singular wrecker plural wreckers 1) American a vehicle used for moving damaged cars or other vehicles 2) someone who destroys something a reputation as a home wrecker (= someone… …   English dictionary

  • wrecker — noun a) A person or company that dismantles old or wrecked vehicles or other items, to reclaim useful parts. (Australia) b) One who breaks up situations, events (home wrecker, marriage wrecker, party wrecker) …   Wiktionary

  • wrecker — wreck|er [ rekər ] noun count 1. ) AMERICAN a vehicle used for moving damaged cars or other vehicles 2. ) someone who destroys something: a reputation as a home wrecker (=someone who destroys someone else s marriage) wrecker of: He s a wrecker of …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • wrecker — wreck|er [ˈrekə US ər] n 1.) someone who deliberately destroys something ▪ She accused him of being a marriage wrecker. 2.) AmE a vehicle that is used to take away damaged cars after an accident …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • wrecker — [[t]re̱kə(r)[/t]] wreckers 1) N COUNT A wrecker is a motor vehicle which is used to pull broken or damaged vehicles to a place where they can be repaired or broken up, for example after an accident. [mainly AM] 2) N COUNT Wreckers are people… …   English dictionary

  • wrecker — noun (C) 1 someone who destroys a relationship, plan, opportunity etc: a home wrecker 2 AmE a vehicle used to move damaged cars or other vehicles 3 someone in past times who deliberately made ships hit rocks so that they could steal goods from… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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