English

Noun

striker ‎(plural strikers)

1. An individual who is on strike.
2. Someone or something that hits someone or something else.
   1. A blacksmith's assistant who wields the sledgehammer.
3. (soccer) One of the players on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.
   • 2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport:

     Olympiakos had barely been in the Arsenal half but should have levelled in the 14th minute. A low corner was not dealt with and the ball fell to the feet of striker Rafik Djebbour, who saw his close-range effort brilliantly cleared from the goalline by Arteta.

4. (military, slang) An officer's servant or orderly.
   • 1921, Franklyn Bliss Snyder & ‎Ronald Salmon Crane, The English of Business, page 90:

     "Dog-robber" has a definite significance to some army men; but unless one has spent some time in uniform he will probably have to search long for its meaning: an officer's servant or striker.

5. (baseball, slang, 1800s) The batter.
6. (cricket) The batsman who is currently facing the bowler and defending his wicket.
7. (obsolete) A harpoon.
8. (obsolete) A harpooner.

   Wherever we come to an anchor, we always send out our strikers, and put out hooks and lines overboard, to try fish. — Dampier.

9. (obsolete) A wencher; a lewd man.
   • c. 1621–6, Massinger, Philip, “The Unnatural Combat”, in Gifford, William, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, Act 4, Scene 2, published 1845, page 54:

     'Twill prove a notable striker, like his father.

10. (obsolete, politics) A blackmailer in politics.
11. (obsolete, politics) One whose political influence can be bought.

Synonyms

• (soccer position): attacker, centre forward, forward
• (lewd man): See Wikisaurus:promiscuous man

Translations