I. ˈbrākə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English breker, from breken to break + -er — more at break
1. : one that breaks
a breaker of idols
a breaker of oaths
a veteran breaker of horses
2. : a device or instrument that breaks:
a. : a machine for breaking up the woody part of flax, hemp, or jute
b. : a plow with a moldboard arrangement facilitating turning over virgin land — see prairie breaker , rod breaker
c.
(1) : a machine that tears apart clumps of textile fiber as a step toward carding and spinning
(2) : a papermaking machine similar to a beater but used to break up rags and brush out their threads and to disintegrate old papers for reuse
(3) : one of a series of perforated projections used in a revolving tumbler or drum for treating skins
(4) : a machine or plant for breaking rocks or for crushing, sorting, and cleaning anthracite
d.
(1) : fleshing knife
(2) : an implement that breaks curd into pieces in cheese making
(3) : an implement with long teeth replacing a blade for breaking cake into pieces
e.
(1) : circuit breaker
(2) : a mechanically operated commutator
(3) : a spark-coil interrupter
f. : a strip of open-weave fabric placed above the dome of a tire carcass to provide additional protection at the point of its closest approach to contact with the road
3.
a. : a wave breaking into foam against the shore, against a sandbank, or against a rock or reef near the surface
b. : a slight furrow across a road for drainage
4. : a person whose work consists of breaking: as
a. Britain : one that breaks up ships or autos into salvage and scrap
b. : the operator of a textile breaker
c. : an operator of a machine that softens hides or skins by pounding them with hammers
d. : scrapper
e. : a quarry worker who splits off blocks of stone by driving wedges into previously made holes or channels — called also ledgeman
f. : a power-shear operator who cuts formed angle-iron stock to length
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by folk etymology from Spanish barrica, from French dialect (Gascony) barrique
: a small water cask especially for use in a lifeboat