English

Alternative forms

• leg breaker, legbreaker

Noun

leg-breaker ‎(plural leg-breakers)

1. (chiefly US, slang) A violent thug, especially one employed as an enforcer by a criminal organization.
   • 1974, Victor Riesel, "Mob money took Rebozo," Rome News-Tribune (US), 4 Sep., p. 4 (retrieved 5 Jan. 2009):

     The thug was an acknowledged leg breaker, a shakedown artist, a peddler of violence.

2. A person whose job is to break the legs of poultry in a food processing facility.
   • 2000, M. McDiarmid et al., "Male and Female Rate Differences in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Injuries," Environmental Research, vol. 83, no. 1, p. 28:

     For example, jobs described as meat wrapper or leg breaker would both be coded "butcher meat cutter."

3. (soccer) A tackle or other on-field maneuver capable of breaking a player's leg.
   • 2008, "Mailbox," football365.com, 22 Dec. (retrieved 5 Jan. 2009):

     Arca performed a similar stunt with a high over-the-top-of-the-ball tackle on Andy Johnson, except he connected. It is what is called a leg-breaker.

4. (cycling) A demanding bicycling competition or the course on which such a competition is held.
   • 2003, Tim Maloney, "First Edition News for May 22, 2003," cyclingnews.com, 22 May (retrieved 5 Jan. 2009):

     Zoncolan is a fabled leg breaker of a 13.3km climb that is one of the toughest ascents ever included in a major stage race.

5. (cricket) A cricketer who bowls leg breaks.
   • 1905, The Strand Magazine, p. 703:

     Armstrong is a leg-breaker, with eight fielders on the on-side. Probably he would do better if he bowled more at the wicket.

6. (cricket) A leg break ball.
   • 1894, "Canadian Cricketers Lead," New York Times, 18 Sep., p. 3 (retrieved 5 Jan. 2009):

     Noble joined Wood, and the pair changed the aspect of affairs, 45 being up before a leg breaker from McGiverin proved too good for Noble's defense.

Related terms

• leg break
• leg-breaking

Translations