knackers n.
1. the testicles.
‘Judy’s Got a Rare Black Eye!’ in Ri-tum Ti-tum Songster 22: In silent bliss mankind reposes; / Her hands upon our knackers prest. | ||
Etym. Gloss. Shetland and Orkney Dial. 76: Nackers, testes, S . | ||
in | Gloss. Words Manley and Corringham, Lincolnshire .||
Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant I 523/2: Knackers [...] (Butchers, &c.), the testicles, also ‘knuckers’. | ||
Nocturnal Meeting 57: His prick and knackers showed up in sharp relief. | ||
Ulysses 549: Eh, Harry, give him a kick in the knackers. | ||
There Ain’t No Justice 142: Lay off of that. You’re spieling knackers. | ||
They Drive by Night 115: ‘You better arst the sergeant.’ ‘He’ll chew my nackers off.’. | ||
in Limerick (1953) 245: There was a young man of Malacca / Who always slept on his left knacker. | ||
Sel. Letters (1992) 166: The absurdity of it all struck me like a fist in the knackers – like trying to argue away the sun. | letter 30 July in Thwaite||
Up the Junction 40: ‘Aren’t Chelsea blokes sexy?’ ‘No [...] They lost their knackers in the Flood.’. | ||
Cherry Pickers III ii: (Grabs at toodle’s crotch) How’s ya bunions? [...] How’s yer knackers? | ||
(con. 1939) Evacuees Scene 39: It’s not swearing. ‘Nackers’ is swearing. | ||
Glass Canoe (1982) 225: Someone lurched above me, tried to recover balance and trod fair on my knackers. | ||
Up the Cross 81: [He] let out a yowl like a League prop who’s just had his knackers yanked. | (con. 1959)||
Songlines 79: ‘Not bad for seventy-three!’ he looked down at himself. ‘Serviceable knackers!’. | ||
(con. 1920s) Emerald Square 73: We had often thought up tortures for Yella’ Man. Such things as hanging him up on a butcher’s hook by the nakers. | ||
Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 379: Do you know your knackers are hanging through the old wicker chair? | ||
(con. 1977) Nineteen seventy-seven 11: He tuts and scratches his knackers as he gets out of the car. | ||
Theft 20: We did the old charge and grab the knackers. | ||
Pigeon English 213: I’d kung fu him in the knackers. | ||
Tales of the Honey Badger [ebook] [T]hat little bastard [...] went straight at the big prick’s nutsack and ripped his knackers clean off. |
2. (Aus.) as a derog, term of address.
Godson 62: ‘Make up your fuckin’ mind, knackers. I ain’t got all day’. |
3. in fig. sense, courage, synon, with balls n. (3)
Gutted 118: They’ve still got the knackers to fight for their country. |
In phrases
(Aus.) to be in a bad temper, to be emotionally stressed.
Up the Cross 35: [B]owling into the bar [and] behaving as though he had his knackers in a knot. | (con. 1959)
insane, stupid.
Observer Mag. 21 May 26: That this world’s for real. That if you’re bored, you’re off your knackers. |
In exclamations
a general term of derision.
(con. 1940s) Borstal Boy 285: Neat me knackers. |