shocker

[ shok-er ]

/ ˈʃɒk ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shocker ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person or thing that shocks.

a sensational novel, play, etc.

Nearby words

shock wave, shock-horror, shock-resistant, shock-test, shocked, shocker, shockheaded, shocking, shocking pink, shockingly, shockley

Origin of shocker

First recorded in 1780–90; shock¹ + -er¹

Definition for shocker (2 of 2)

shock

[ shok ]

/ ʃɒk /

noun

a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.

Also shock dog. a dog with long, shaggy hair.

adjective

shaggy, as hair.

Origin of shock

1810–20; special use of shock², the hair being compared to a shock of wheat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shocker

But it was certainly no shocker when it dissolved in acrimony.
Bob Woodward's So-Called Thinking Sort Of Explained|Michael Tomasky|February 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Notorious troublemaker Glenn Beck did not disappoint last week (shocker).
Destiny’s Child, a Gangnam Baby, Malala and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|February 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That this disheveled loon is played by Paul Rudd—with great conviction—is a bit of a shocker.
Paul Rudd on His New Broadway Show ‘Grace,’ ‘Clueless’ Memories & More|Marlow Stern|October 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And Ryan's spokesman, when asked about the story by a Wisconsin paper, responded by...shocker here, but apparently by lying.
In non-Charlotte News, Paul Ryan Amazing Hypocrisy Watch|Michael Tomasky|September 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST

I know this will come as a shocker, but he is a politician after all: He was thinking about himself.
The Impact of Cory Booker|Michael Tomasky|May 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Tables 12-16 list all fish obtained at the upper Neosho station by means of the shocker, seines, and rotenone.
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas|James Everett Deacon
In my collections made by use of the shocker, buffalo were taken more frequently at night (Table 9, p. 402).
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas|James Everett Deacon
"He's got a room here—up on the third floor," said Shocker, as he saw Dave hesitate.
Dave Porter at Star Ranch|Edward Stratemeyer
It is quite a neat example of the shocker—an agreeable form of entertainment for the simple and the jaded.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 153, Sept. 19, 1917|Various
Because of the necessity of wading, we could not use the shocker effectively in water more than three feet deep.
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas|James Everett Deacon

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (1 of 4)

shocker

/ (ˈʃɒkə) /

noun informal

a person or thing that shocks or horrifies

a sensational novel, film, or play

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (2 of 4)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

verb

to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etcthe atrocities shocked us; she shocks easily

to cause a state of shock in (a person)

to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar

noun

a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact

something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotionsthe shock of her father's death made her ill

pathol a state of bodily collapse or near collapse caused by circulatory failure or sudden lowering of the blood pressure, as from severe bleeding, burns, fright, etc

pathol pain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body

Derived Formsshockable, adjectiveshockability, noun

Word Origin for shock

C16: from Old French choc, from choquier to make violent contact with, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German schoc

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (3 of 4)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

noun

a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry

a pile or stack of unthreshed corn

verb

(tr) to set up (sheaves) in shocks

Word Origin for shock

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schok shock of corn, group of sixty

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (4 of 4)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

noun

a thick bushy mass, esp of hair

adjective

rare bushy; shaggy

Word Origin for shock

C19: perhaps from shock ²

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

Word Origin and History for shocker (1 of 6)

shocker

"something that shocks or excites," 1824, agent noun from shock (v.).

Word Origin and History for shocker (1 of 6)

shock

n.1

1560s, "violent encounter of armed forces or a pair of warriors," a military term, from Middle French choc "violent attack," from Old French choquer "strike against," probably from Frankish, from a Proto-Germanic imitative base (cf. Middle Dutch schokken "to push, jolt," Old High German scoc "jolt, swing").

Meaning "a sudden blow" is from 1610s; meaning "a sudden and disturbing impression on the mind" is from 1705. Sense of "feeling of being (mentally) shocked" is from 1876. Medical sense is attested from 1804 (it also once meant "seizure, stroke," 1794). Shock-absorber is attested from 1906 (short form shocks attested by 1961); shock wave is from 1907. Shock troops (1917) translates German stoßtruppen and preserves the word's original military sense. Shock therapy is from 1917; shock treatment from 1938.

Word Origin and History for shocker (2 of 6)

shock

n.2

"bundle of grain," early 14c., from Middle Low German schok "shock of corn," originally "group of sixty," from Proto-Germanic *skukka- (cf. Old Saxon skok, Dutch schok "sixty pieces; shock of corn;" German schock "sixty," Hocke "heap of sheaves"). In 16c.-17c. English the word sometimes meant "60-piece lot," from trade with the Dutch.

Word Origin and History for shocker (3 of 6)

shock

n.3

"thick mass of hair," 1819, from earlier shock (adj.) "having thick hair" (1680s), and a noun sense of "lap dog having long, shaggy hair" (1630s), from shough (1590s), the name for this type of dog, which was said to have been brought originally from Iceland; the word is perhaps from the source of shock (n.2), or from an Old Norse variant of shag (n.). Shock-headed Peter was used in 19c. translations for German Struwwelpeter.

Word Origin and History for shocker (4 of 6)

shock

v.1

"to come into violent contact, strike against suddenly and violently," 1570s, now archaic or obsolete, from shock (n.1). Meaning "to give (something) an electric shock" is from 1746; sense of "to offend, displease" is first recorded 1690s.

Word Origin and History for shocker (5 of 6)

shock

v.2

"arrange (grain) in a shock," mid-15c., from shock (n.2). Related: Shocked; shocking.

Medicine definitions for shocker

shock

[ shŏk ]

n.

Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent, unexpected blow.

The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.

A generally temporary massive physiological reaction to severe physical or emotional trauma, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure and depression of vital processes.

The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.

The abnormally palpable impact of an accentuated heartbeat felt by a hand on the chest wall.

v.

To induce a state of physical shock in a person.

To subject a person to an electric shock.

Science definitions for shocker

shock

[ shŏk ]

An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.

A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.

Idioms and Phrases with shocker

shock

see culture shock.

shocker

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of shocker

Definition for shocker (2 of 2)

shock

noun

adjective

Origin of shock

Examples from the Web for shocker

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (1 of 4)

shocker

noun informal

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (2 of 4)

shock

verb

noun

Word Origin for shock

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (3 of 4)

shock

noun

verb

Word Origin for shock

British Dictionary definitions for shocker (4 of 4)

shock

noun

adjective

Word Origin for shock

Word Origin and History for shocker (1 of 6)

shocker

Word Origin and History for shocker (1 of 6)

shock

Word Origin and History for shocker (2 of 6)

shock

Word Origin and History for shocker (3 of 6)

shock

Word Origin and History for shocker (4 of 6)

shock

Word Origin and History for shocker (5 of 6)

shock

Medicine definitions for shocker

shock

n.

v.

Science definitions for shocker

shock

Idioms and Phrases with shocker

shock