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Glite Dictionary
doorknocker

doorknocker

1 4.3
A metal object on a door that you lift or hit to show you are there
  • noun
  • /ˈdʊrˌnɑːkər/
translation icon : aldaba

Synonyms

knocker
vsdoorknocker
4 2.8

A metal object on a door that you lift to make a knocking sound

is focused on being a hinged decorative piece used to announce visitors
rapper
vsdoorknocker
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A metal piece on a door you lift and hit to make a sound

is the same object but emphasises decorative attachment and announcing visitors
brass knocker
vsdoorknocker
1 4.0

A metal handle on a front door that you lift and hit to make a knocking sound

is the general decorative hinged metal object not limited to that metal

Surface Forms

doorknocker singular
doorknockers plural

Morphology

doorknocker = door + knocker (transparent) = door + knock + er

The compound is directly interpretable as a 'knocker' for a 'door' and matches productive English morphology.

Etymology

The word doorknocker is simply door + knock + -er, where knock means 'to hit' and -er means 'one who does'. So a doorknocker is literally the object you use to make a knocking sound at a door to announce a visitor.