sockdolager

sockdolager
sockdolager 1830, "a decisive blow," fanciful formation from SOCK (Cf. sock) (v.) "hit hard;" also said to be a variant of DOXOLOGY (Cf. doxology), on a notion of "finality." The meaning "something exceptional" is attested from 1838. Sockdologising was nearly the last word President Abraham Lincoln heard. During the performance of Tom Taylor's "Our American Cousin," assassin John Wilkes Booth (who knew the play well) waited for the line "Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, you sockdologising old man-trap," and as the audience laughed, Booth fired the fatal shot.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Sockdolager — Sock*dol a*ger, n. [A corruption of doxology.] [Written also {sockdologer}.] 1. That which finishes or ends a matter; a settler; a poser, as a heavy blow, a conclusive answer, and the like. [Slang, U.S.] [1913 Webster] 2. (Angling) A combination… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sockdolager — ☆ sockdolager or sockdologer [säk däl′ə jər ] n. [metathetic alteration (infl. by SOCK2) < DOXOLOGY (in sense of “conclusion”) + ER] [Old Slang] Slang former 1. something final or decisive, as a heavy blow 2. something outstanding …   English World dictionary

  • sockdolager — /sok dol euh jeuhr/, n. Older Slang. 1. something unusually large, heavy, etc. 2. a decisive reply, argument, etc. 3. a heavy, finishing blow: His right jab is a real sockdolager. [1820 30, Amer.; SOCK2 + dolager, of uncert. orig.] * * * …   Universalium

  • sockdolager — or sockdologer noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1830 1. something that settles a matter ; a decisive blow or answer ; finisher 2. something outstanding or exceptional …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sockdolager — noun a) a hard hit, a knockout or finishing blow I gave the fellow a socdolager over his head with the barrel of my gun, b) something exceptional The thunder would go rumbling and grumbling away, and quit and then rip comes another flash and… …   Wiktionary

  • sockdolager — Synonyms and related words: KO, clincher, conclusive argument, crusher, death stroke, deathblow, end all, ender, final stroke, finisher, finishing stroke, floorer, kayo, kayo punch, knockdown argument, knockout, knockout blow, last dab, quietus,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • sockdolager — n. settler, thing that settles; decisive argument; hard hit or remark; something remarkable; joining of two hooks that close on top each other with a spring when the fish bites …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sockdolager — sock·dol·a·ger …   English syllables

  • sockdolager — sock•dol•a•ger [[t]sɒkˈdɒl ə dʒər[/t]] n. Older Slang. 1) sts something unusually large, etc 2) sts a decisive reply, argument, etc 3) sts a heavy, finishing blow • Etymology: 1820–30, amer.; sock II+ dolager, of uncert. orig …   From formal English to slang

  • sockdolager — …   Useful english dictionary

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