penalty killer

noun Ice Hockey.

a player used when the player's team is short-handed as a result of a penalty, especially a player skilled at defense and employed regularly in such situations.

Origin of penalty killer

First recorded in 1960–65

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for penalty killer

penalty killer

noun

ice hockey a good player who, when his team is short-handed because of a penalty, is sent onto the ice to prevent the other side from scoring

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