clinker

¹

[ kling-ker ]

noun

, Slang.

1. any mistake or error.
2. something that is a failure; a product of inferior quality.
3. a wrong note in a musical performance.
4. British. someone or something wonderful or exceedingly well-liked.

clinker

²

[ kling-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that clinks.

clinker

³

[ kling-ker ]

noun

1. a mass of incombustible matter fused together, as in the burning of coal.
2. a hard Dutch brick, used especially for paving.
3. a partially vitrified mass of brick.
4. the scale of oxide formed on iron during forging.
5. Geology. a mass of vitrified material ejected from a volcano.

verb (used without object)

1. to form clinkers in burning.

clinker

/ ˈklɪŋkə /

noun

1. the ash and partially fused residues from a coal-fired furnace or fire
2. Also calledclinker brick a hard brick used as a paving stone
3. a partially vitrified brick or mass of brick
4. slang.
   something of poor quality, such as a film
5. slang.
   a mistake or fault, esp a wrong note in music

verb

1. intr to form clinker during burning

Word History and Origins

Origin of clinker¹

First recorded in 1830–40; special use of clinker ²

Origin of clinker²

First recorded in 1680–90; clink ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of clinker³

First recorded in 1635–45; from Dutch klinker (formerly klinkaerd ) “slag”; also a kind of brick, derivative of klinken, clinken “to clink” (from the sound the material makes when struck)

Word History and Origins

Origin of clinker¹

C17: from Dutch klinker a type of brick, from obsolete klinckaerd, literally: something that clinks (referring to the sound produced when one was struck), from klinken to clink ¹

Example Sentences

Next, the lime could be used to make clinker in the conventional process, which would reduce cement’s emissions since the CO2 has been captured.

From MIT Technology Review

They were all clinker built of yellow pine, double fastened with copper nails, clinched over rooves.

From Project Gutenberg

"Well, we are here," said Artie, after Clinker's wound had been examined and dressed.

From Project Gutenberg

They, the clinker canoes, are easily tightened when they spring a leak through being rattled over stones in rapids.

From Project Gutenberg

And now I will give my reasons for preferring the clinker-built cedar boat, or canoe, to any other.

From Project Gutenberg

There is only one objection to the clinker-built canoe that occurs to me as at all plausible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bickering
• controversy
• disagreement
• discord
• dissent
• disunity
• factionalism
• friction
• fuss
• quarrel
• strife
• wrangle