knacker

UK: /ˈnækə/ US: (nak′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

knack•er  (nak′ər), n. [Brit.]

1. Ancient History, British Terms a person who buys animal carcasses or slaughters useless livestock for a knackery or rendering works.
2. British Terms a person who buys and dismembers old houses, ships, etc., to salvage usable parts, selling the rest as scrap.
3. British Terms [Dial.] an old, sick, or useless farm animal, esp. a horse.
4. British Terms [Obs.] a harness maker;
   a saddler.

• Scandinavian; compare Icelandic hnakkr nape of the neck, saddle) + -er¹
• knack (1565–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

knacker / ˈnækə/ noun

1. a person who buys up old horses for slaughter
2. a person who buys up old buildings and breaks them up for scrap
3. (usually plural)
   another word for testicle
4. a despicable person

verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to exhaust; tire

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from nacker saddler, probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnakkur saddle