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boilermaker

American  
[boi-ler-may-ker] / ˈbɔɪ lərˌmeɪ kər /

noun

  1. a person employed to make and repair boilers or other heavy metal items.

  2. whiskey with beer as a chaser.


boilermaker British  
/ ˈbɔɪləˌmeɪkə /

noun

  1. a person who works with metal in heavy industry; plater or welder

  2. slang a beer drink consisting of half of draught mild and half of bottled brown ale

  3. slang a drink of whisky followed by a beer chaser

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boilermaker

First recorded in 1860–65; boiler + maker


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Additional money is being provided by Hull-based boilermaker Ideal Heating.

From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025

His father was a boilermaker on the Lake Erie Railroad and Lujack was often kidded that he should have gone to Purdue, not Notre Dame.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2023

His father, a boilermaker, was strict and demanding.

From New York Times ● Jun. 22, 2021

Differing family accounts say his father was either a dockworker or a boilermaker and his mother either a store clerk or a homemaker.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 17, 2019

Edgar was an English workman, a boilermaker, who had been a long time in Johannesburg; a well-conducted man and generally respected.

From Boer Politics by Yves Guyot

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