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

And they were needed, with one man disqualified for trying to smuggle a non-conforming conker in.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

The single combat involves swinging a conker -- a hardened horse chestnut -- on a string at your opponent's nut with murderous venom, until one is smashed to pieces.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

His victory was plunged into controversy and he was surprised to find himself at the centre of national headlines when the Telegraph reported claims he cheated by swapping his real conker for a metal one.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2024

He added: "Yes, he had a steel conker with him, which we're aware of... it's very obvious it's not a real one."

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2024

Round the other side of the conker tree, I looked at what lay up the bridle path.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell