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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

"He must soon have had the enmity of Old Phin, and every other moonshiner about the Big Smokies," Thad remarked, the other having paused, as though to give him a chance to express an opinion.

From The Boy Scouts in the Blue Ridge Marooned Among the Moonshiners by Herbert Carter

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