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Glite Dictionary
🐴 Horse slaughterer ⚓ Dismantler
knacker

knacker

9.9
A person who buys old buildings or ships to take them apart and sell useful parts
  • noun
  • /ˈnækə/
  • UK
translation icon : desguazador
  • Several knackers made their living dismantling derelict structures in the city.

Examples

  • The knacker arrived to survey the old warehouse before starting the demolition.

  • After the ship ran aground, a knacker was hired to break it up for parts.

  • The knacker arrived early to inspect the old ship.

  • The knacker quickly dismantled the old factory.

  • The local knacker bought an old ship to dismantle it and sell the parts.

  • After the storm, the town's knacker purchased several damaged buildings for their materials.

  • At the auction, the knacker outbid everyone to obtain an old warehouse for renovation.

Synonyms

wrecker
vsknacker
1 6.2

A person who tears down buildings for work

buys such structures to remove and reuse valuable materials
ship-breaker
vsknacker
8.2

A person or company that buys old ships and takes them apart to sell metal

buys old buildings or boats to take apart and recover useful materials
demolisher
vsknacker
5.8

A person or machine that destroys buildings to clear land

focuses on buying to salvage useful parts rather than pure destruction
scrapper
vsknacker
  • US
4.8

A person who collects and sells scrap metal and old appliances

buys whole structures to take apart, not just collect loose scrap

Surface Forms

knacker singular
knackers plural

Etymology

Knacker is also used for a person who buys and breaks up old buildings or ships to get useful parts like wood and metal. Picture the same idea as with an old horse — someone who 'takes' useful parts from things — which is why a knacker works to dismantle items for their materials.