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Glite Dictionary
shucker

shucker

1 6.5
A person or tool that removes shells from oysters and husks from corn
  • noun
  • /ˈʃʌkər/
translation icon : desollador
  • The shuckers also saved some pea crabs to eat at home in oyster stews or fritters (Anderson13).
  • oyster shuckers

Examples

  • Individual shuckers had their own favorites.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In some packing houses, tokens were given to shuckers when a predetermined quantity of oysters was shucked.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Individual shuckers often got about half a teacup per day.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Each shucker is equipped with a gallon bucket, a thin-bladed knife, a hammer, and a breaking block.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The shuckers can then easily insert the blade to sever the muscle.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The baskets carry oysters to the shuckers, keeping them supplied.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Good shuckers can open about 20-25 bushels (4,000-5,000 oysters) a day.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The shuckers were paid at the rate of $0.18-$0.20 per gallon of meats opened (Anonymous, 1906c).

    Academic text (1996)

  • As the oysters were being opened, the shuckers set aside the pea crabs and gave them to the workers in the houses' packing rooms; the workers sold them to the Fulton Market in New York.

    Academic text (1996)

  • An experienced shucker can open dozens of oysters in just a few minutes.

Synonyms

plucker
vsshucker
1 5.6

A person or machine that pulls things off, like feathers

focuses on removing hard shells or husks rather than pulling soft parts off
sheller
vsshucker
1 5.8

A person or machine that removes the outer covering of peas

is specific to shellfish and corn rather than many produce types
cornhusker
vsshucker
  • US
9.1

A person who removes the outer leaves from ears of corn

also removes shells from shellfish as well as corn husks
huller
vsshucker
  • Specialized
7.3

A machine that removes the outer covering from seeds or grains

works on shellfish and corn rather than on seeds and grains
shellcracker
vsshucker
8.4

A person who opens hard shells of nuts or shellfish for food

removes the shell or husk entirely rather than merely cracking it open

Surface Forms

shucker singular
shuckers plural

Morphology

shucker = shuck (transparent) = shuck + er

The word 'shucker' is transparently derived from 'shuck' with the addition of the agentive suffix '-er', indicating a person or tool that performs the action of shucking.

Etymology

The word shucker comes from the verb shuck, which means 'to remove a shell or husk', so a shucker is someone or something that takes shells off oysters or husks off corn.