pikers

Noun

piker (plural pikers)

1. (historical) A soldier armed with a pike, a pikeman.
   • Upstairs in a waiting room there were pikers whose tunics echoed Baudricourt′s gold lion shield painted up and down the rafters.1974, Thomas Keneally, Blood Red, Sister Rose, page 82
2. One who bets or gambles only with small amounts of money.
   • “[…] Them rich fellers, they don't make no bad breaks with their money. They watch it all th' time b'cause they know blame well there ain't hardly room fer their feet fer th' pikers an' tin-horns an' thimble-riggers what are layin' fer 'em. […]”1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock

   Antonyms:

   high roller

3. A stingy person; a cheapskate.
   • “And if you′ve got to be a piker,” said Dolly, “don′t be ashamed to be a piker. We′re not spending a hundred dollars because we can afford it, but because you dreamt a dream.”1916, Richard Harding Davis, The Man Who Could Not Lose, published 2008, page 22

   Antonyms:

   spendthrift, baller

4. An amateur.
5. (Australia) A bullock living in the wild. (Also used attributively.)
   • ‘There's always a few old piker bullocks find their way into this country. But mostly cattle don't come this far.’2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 269
6. (Australia, New Zealand, slang) One who refuses to go out with friends, or leaves a party early; a spoilsport or "chicken".
   • Mate, don't be a piker! Come to Angie′s birthday party tonight!

See all 10 meanings of piker