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Showing results for moonshiner. Search instead for knob-shiner.
Synonyms

moonshiner

American  
[moon-shahy-ner] / ˈmunˌʃaɪ nər /

noun

Informal.
  1. a person who distills or sells liquor, especially corn liquor, illegally.

  2. a person who pursues any illegal trade or activity at night.


moonshiner British  
/ ˈmuːnˌʃaɪnə /

noun

  1. a person who illegally makes or smuggles distilled spirits

"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 moonshiner

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; moonshine + -er 1

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:

Allowing the plants to seed has enabled the survival of the extremely rare Wormwood moonshiner beetle, which eats the seeds.

From BBC Feb. 3, 2021

A federal agent forces a paroled moonshiner called Gator to go undercover in a corrupt county.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 28, 2020

An exchange follows between my friend and the moonshiner that reveals some confusion with my question or its translation.

From Slate Mar. 6, 2018

There are a lot of theories about the story behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it’s unlikely that any of them revolve around a bluegrass band, a debutante, or a renegade moonshiner.

From Time Dec. 4, 2015

"An' I claim that it don't," returned the youthful moonshiner, without lifting his voice in the least.

From Frank Merriwell Down South by Standish, Burt L.

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