digger

[ dig-er ]

noun

1. a person or an animal that digs.
2. a tool, part of a machine, etc., for digging.
3. (initial capital letter) Disparaging. Also called Digger Indian. a member of any of several Indian peoples of western North America, especially of a tribe that dug roots for food.
4. an Australian or New Zealand soldier of World War I.
5. (initial capital letter) English History. a member of a group that advocated the abolition of private property and began in 1649 to cultivate certain common lands.
6. Slang. a person hired by a scalper to buy tickets to a show or performance for resale by the scalper at inflated prices.

Digger

¹

/ ˈdɪɡə /

noun

1. archaic.
   sometimes not capital
   1. an Australian or New Zealander, esp a soldier: often used as a term of address
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Digger accent

2. one of a number of tribes of America whose diet was largely composed of roots dug out of the ground

digger

²

/ ˈdɪɡə /

noun

1. a person, animal, or machine that digs
2. a miner, esp one who digs for gold
3. a tool or part of a machine used for excavation, esp a mechanical digger fitted with a head for digging trenches

Word History and Origins

Origin of digger¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; dig ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

A digger and about 40 local men are doing the slow work to excavate and look for bodies under the rubble.

From BBC

As we begin to leave the site, a hush falls over those gathered and we see a stretcher carrying a wrapped body being taken away by the digger.

From BBC

The animal had arrived on a 22-tonne lorry full of rubbish, scooped up in a digger and was then put through a sorting process including a glass-smashing machine.

From BBC

A video he shared with the BBC shows a digger striking a building while horses can be seen inside.

From BBC

Despite the duplex, Ferrari, Bentleys and various expensive baubles he has showered upon her, she seems too delusional and naive to be called a gold digger.

From Los Angeles Times