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stoker

stoker

1 9.8
A person who tends and adds coal to a furnace on a steam train or ship
  • noun
  • /ˈstoʊkər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : fogonero
  • The stoker worked tirelessly, feeding coal to the furnace to keep the steam engine running.
  • coal stokers
  • head stokers
  • stoker shoveling

We'll see if that's the case with with the Stoker or you.

Examples

  • The head stoker signaled me to close the port.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • When he gets to it and looks through, he sees a sweating stoker shoveling coal into a giant furnace.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Bring in coal for the stoker.

  • They need a stoker down there.

  • I'll tell the stoker to make up the fire, ma'am.

  • Who's the small fellow behind the chief stoker?

  • He's a stoker.

  • A stoker can quickly judge the condition of the kiln atmosphere with a glance at the chimney cap.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • By a regular visual inspection of the fire, by exchanging information with the side stokers, noting the gradual collapse of the cones, and paying attention to the roar, a good stoker can keep track of the behavior of the fire and convey that information to her successor at a shift change.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • During the voyage, the stoker was responsible for maintaining the fire that powered the ship's engines.

Synonyms

fireman
vsstoker
  • Archaic
8 3.4

A person who keeps the engine fire burning on steam trains

is the gender-neutral job for tending and fueling furnace fires on ships or trains
fueler
vsstoker
  • US
1 4.4

A person or machine that fills vehicles with gas

specifies a worker who tends and fuels furnace fires on steam vessels and trains
firewoman
vsstoker
  • Archaic
7.5

A woman who shovels coal to keep the steam engine working on a train or ship

is the same occupation without specifying the worker's gender
fireboy
vsstoker
  • Archaic
9.9

A boy who keeps the home fire burning so people stay warm

is the standard adult job and not limited to youth or historical use

Surface Forms

stoker singular
stokers plural

Morphology

stoker = stoke (transparent) = stoke + er

Clear agent/instrument formation from the verb 'stoke' using the productive English suffix '-er', yielding a person or device that performs the action.

Etymology

Stoker comes from the word stoke, which means 'to poke' or 'feed a fire', plus -er meaning 'one who does'. So a stoker was originally the person who kept the fire on a ship or train fed and hot, which explains the job.