nutcracker

American  

[nuht-krak-er] / ˈnʌtˌkræk ər /

noun

1. an instrument or device for cracking the shells of nuts. nut.

2. any of several corvine birds of the genus Nucifraga that feed on nuts, nut, as the common nutcracker, N. caryocatactes, of Europe and Clark's nutcracker, N. columbiana, of the western U.S.

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nutcracker British  

/ ˈnʌtˌkrækə /

noun

1. (often plural) a device for cracking the shells of nuts

2. either of two birds, Nucifraga caryocatactes of the Old World or N. columbianus ( Clark's nutcracker ) of North America, having speckled plumage and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc: family Corvidae (crows)

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Etymology

Origin of nutcracker

First recorded in 1540–50; nut + cracker

Example Sentences

Even the famed nutcracker museum sat largely empty.

From The Wall Street Journal

To mirror the real world, the Land of Sweets was not spared from an evil nutcracker tyrant.

From Los Angeles Times

“A drum with sticks. A coach and four. An India rubber ball, and a nutcracker. Nothing remotely edible.”

From Literature

Even the alleys looked inviting, with adult-sized nutcrackers casually loitering there instead of the usual muggers.

From Salon

From stolen nutcrackers to deflated snowmen, members of Congress have been known to get competitive.

From Seattle Times