luggers

Noun (1)

lugger (plural luggers)

1. (also, figuratively) Someone or something that lugs (“drags or hauls, especially something heavy”).
   • Tireur: […] A dravver, puller, plucker, baler, lugger, tugger, tovver; […]1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Tireur”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature Hhhh ij, verso, column 2
   1. (also, figuratively) A person whose job involves moving or pulling heavy objects.
      • Micheal Kelleher was employed by the Swift Co., on Sept. 10, 1914, as a meat lugger. While engaged in carrying meat to the storage plant elevator a tag fastener was tossed toward him by a fellow employe. It struck him over the right eye. He lost the sight of the eye.1915 July 16, “New York State Compensation Rulings”, in The Eastern Underwriter, number 29, New York, N.Y.: The Eastern Underwriter Company, →OCLC, page 22, column 3
   2. (also, figuratively) A person hired to locate potential customers and bring them to a gambling establishment.
      • The feds also figured that the casino's annual payroll was $350,000. An estimated 50 luggers were employed to bring gamblers to Reading.2008, Ed Taggert, “High Rollers Crapped out by Feds”, in When the Rackets Reigned, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 187
   3. (also, derogatory, figuratively, slang) A rower who tends to rely on strength rather than technique.
      • The Canadian [Ned] Hanlan represents what since the introduction of the slide may be called the scientific side of sculling; his Australian competitor [Elias Connell Laycock], though by no means such a mere "lugger" as his countryman [Edward] Trickett, trusts much less to style and mechanical...1881 February 14, “[Professional sculling race on the Thames]”, in The Daily News, number 10,862, London: William King Hales, →OCLC, page 5, column 5
   4. (Australia, US, also, figuratively, slang) A con artist.

Noun (2)

lugger (plural luggers)

1. A small sailing vessel having two or three masts and a running bowsprit, carrying lugsails.
   • pearling lugger

See all 10 meanings of lugger