I. ˈräkə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rokkere, from rokken to rock + -ere -er
1. archaic : one that rocks a cradle
2.
a. : either of two curving pieces of wood or metal on which an object (as a cradle or chair) rocks
b. : any of various objects that rock upon rockers: as
(1) : cradle 1a
(2) : rocking chair
(3) : an infant's toy having a seat placed between side pieces that are usually constructed to resemble an animal
c. : any of various objects having the form of a rocker or with parts resembling a rocker: as
(1) : rocker panel
(2) : a skate with a curved blade
(3) : a curved dentate blade used in mezzotint to roughen the surface of the plate
(4) : a boat with a rockered keel
(5) : one of the curved stripes under the three chevrons that indicate the grade of a sergeant (as in the United States Army and Marine Corps)
(3) : any of various devices that work with a rocking motion: as
a. : cradle 3a
b. or rocker pit or rocker vat : a vat equipped with frames on which hides are hung and which rock continuously in order to keep the hides in motion
c.
(1) : a lever (as in some link motions and gas-engine gears) that is pivoted at or near its center and operates with an up-and-down motion
(2) : rockshaft
d. : an adjustable brush holder for a dynamo or motor
e. : a steel or cast-iron pedestal supporting the end of a truss or girder and permitting rotation and horizontal movement caused by expansion and contraction
f. : rocking bar
4. : a miner or engraver that uses a rocker
5. : a three-lobed school skating figure performed on either edge and either forward or backward in which the skater executes a turn at each junction of the three lobes in the direction of the natural rotation of the curve being skated and remains on the same edge throughout — compare counter V 11
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- off one's rocker
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to build (as a boat keel) with a camber like a rocker
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: rock (IV) + -er
: rock pigeon
IV. noun
: a rock performer, song, or enthusiast