nutcracker

[ nuht-krak-er ]

noun

1. an instrument or device for cracking the shells of nuts. nut.
2. any of several corvine birds of the genus Nucifraga that feed on nuts, nut, as the common nutcracker, N. caryocatactes, of Europe and Clark's nutcracker, N. columbiana, of the western U.S.

nutcracker

/ ˈnʌtˌkrækə /

noun

1. often plural a device for cracking the shells of nuts
2. either of two birds, Nucifraga caryocatactes of the Old World or N. columbianus ( Clark's nutcracker ) of North America, having speckled plumage and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc: family Corvidae (crows)

Word History and Origins

Origin of nutcracker¹

First recorded in 1540–50; nut + cracker

Example Sentences

Or Spike Jones cracks me up with his subversion of The Nutcracker.

From The Daily Beast

She set her mind on getting a part in The Nutcracker and devoted all waking hours to preparing for the audition.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, the headline, “Zemeckis to Uglimate The Nutcracker,” might have set a certain unappreciative tone.

From The Daily Beast

There were enormous nutcracker men, 8- to 10-feet-tall, out by the gate in front of the house.

From The Daily Beast

Yet Serenade for Strings in C Major sounded nothing like the Nutcracker or Swan Lake.

From The Daily Beast

He was a young man with a clear, hairless face, a long thin nose, and rather nutcracker jaws.

From Project Gutenberg

She had a stick and a nutcracker face and a pair of large iron bowed spectacles.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Squirrel Nutcracker sat outside his doorstep while Mrs. Nutcracker hung out the rugs and beat the sofa cushions.

From Project Gutenberg

They hadn't heard Featherhead, the naughty son of Squirrel Nutcracker, take down the sign.

From Project Gutenberg

He was not strong enough to throw it far and it only fell at her feet, but Mary's face looked as pinched as a nutcracker.

From Project Gutenberg