haymaker

American  

[hey-mey-ker] / ˈheɪˌmeɪ kər /

noun

1. a person or machine that cuts hay and spreads it to dry.

2. Slang. a punch delivered with great force, especially one that results in a knockout.

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haymaker British  

/ ˈheɪˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person who helps to cut, turn, toss, spread, or carry hay

2. Also called: hay conditioner.  either of two machines, one designed to crush stems of hay, the other to break and bend them, in order to cause more rapid and even drying

3. slang boxing a wild swinging punch

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Other Word Forms

• haymaking adjective

Etymology

Origin of haymaker

1400–50; 1910–15 haymaker for def. 2; late Middle English heymakere. See hay, maker

Example Sentences

If everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face, England have taken a haymaker and kept their plans intact.

From BBC

She said Jackson was not the aggressor and had not thrown a "haymaker".

From BBC

Months of soul searching had led USC to the brink of that moment Saturday, having fought its way back once, then again, then again, returning every haymaker from Michigan with a punch of its own.

From Los Angeles Times

Following a nervous start, Catterall grew into the fight and gained control in the latter stages as Prograis desperately sought a knockout, twice sweeping himself off his own feet with attempted haymakers.

From BBC

The stalky power forward, a son of a professional Congolese boxer, tried to match every American haymaker with a punch of his own.

From Los Angeles Times