Jump to:

• digger
  digger

  noun

  a person or an animal that digs.
• Digger
  Digger

  noun

  (sometimes not capital)

digger

American  

[dig-er] / ˈdɪg ər /

noun

1. a person or an animal that digs.

2. a tool, part of a machine, etc., for digging.

3. Also called Digger Indian.  (initial capital letter) 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) 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 British  

/ 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 British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of digger

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

Example Sentences

A few years later, in 1649, Digger leaders William Everard and Gerrard Winstanley refused to remove their hats when brought before General Fairfax, insisting he was 'but their fellow Creature'.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

The Bruins had won 88 straight games, a streak that might never be matched, before coach Digger Phelps and the Fighting Irish pulled off the upset.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 17, 2024

The iconic black-and-white photo of the incident remains a classic for Hoosiers fans and even became fodder for a television commercial with one of his old coaching rivals, former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps.

From Washington Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Starting with 1957’s “A Rage in Harlem,” he wrote eight books that follow detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones through the New York underworld of the 1950s and ’60s.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2023

Hank never argued with Digger because he looked up to him too much.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings