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.

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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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of digger

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

Example Sentences

In the coming weeks diggers will leave, for what residents hope will be the last time.

From BBC

Or the time when she filed a trademark application for the term "gold digger".

From BBC

David Dunlop, a farmer based in the area, said he used a digger to create dams out of soil to try and redirect the flooding from the houses.

From BBC

At one point in the morning search, an AFP reporter at the scene saw the diggers call a halt to their work.

From Barron's

He said the authority had 15 snowploughs out on the roads, 14 pavement ploughs - and had hired in another 24 diggers to clear the snow.

From BBC