stevedore

[ stee-vi-dawr, -dohr ]

noun

1. a firm or individual engaged in the loading or unloading of a vessel.

verb (used with object)

, ste·ve·dored, ste·ve·dor·ing.

1. to load or unload the cargo of (a ship).

verb (used without object)

, ste·ve·dored, ste·ve·dor·ing.

1. to load or unload a vessel.

stevedore

/ ˈstiːvɪˌdɔː /

noun

1. a person employed to load or unload ships

verb

1. to load or unload (a ship, ship's cargo, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of stevedore¹

1780–90, Americanism; < Spanish estibador, equivalent to estib ( ar ) to pack, stow ( steeve ¹ ) + -ador -ator

Word History and Origins

Origin of stevedore¹

C18: from Spanish estibador a packer, from estibar to load (a ship), from Latin stīpāre to pack full

Example Sentences

After spotting the breach on Friday, DP World, one of a handful of stevedore industry players in Australia, disconnected internet, significantly impacting freight movements.

From Reuters

After spotting the breach, DP World, one of a handful of stevedore industry players in Australia, disconnected internet, significantly impacting freight movements, Goldie said.

From Reuters

The company, part of Dubai's state-owned DP World, is one of a handful of stevedore industry players in the country.

From Reuters

Never mind that when she sang and danced, she sounded like a bullfrog on steroids and moved like a drunken stevedore.

From New York Times

“Shape-up” is the term for preferential hiring of stevedores and other dockworkers; “shakedown” means exactly what it says, and it took — and takes — the form of kickbacks in “dues” to a “union” ruled by thugs.

From Los Angeles Times