conker

American  

[kong-ker, kawng-] / ˈkɒŋ kər, ˈkɔŋ- /

noun

British Informal.

1. a horse chestnut.

2. the hollowed-out shell of a horse chestnut.

3. conkers, a game in which a child swings a horse chestnut on a string in an attempt to break that of another player.

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conker British  

/ ˈkɒŋkə /

noun

1. an informal name for horse chestnut

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Etymology

Origin of conker

1840–50; probably originally conquer; compare conquering a game played with snail shells (the name of the game presumably later transferred to the playing pieces)

Example Sentences

As a mum, she would take her two children - Hollie and Emily - on walks in the countryside to collect acorns, conkers, pinecones and holly.

From BBC

Dr Tim Cockerill from the University of South Wales, said most remedies suggested for keeping spiders out of the house, such as putting conkers in the corner of rooms, are simply urban myths.

From BBC

The horse-chestnut – beloved by generations that played conkers as children – has been classified as vulnerable due to the spread of an invasive leaf-miner moth that damages its leaves.

From The Guardian

The conker tree has been put on the official extinction list.

From BBC

As we talk, a parade of three-year-olds in witches' hats march through, past the bright display of conker paintings and into the den full of teddy bears and books.

From BBC