klunker

plural klunkers

1. USalternativeAlternative spelling of clunker; a dilapidated, worn-out, or noisy machine.

   […] you can get a lot more out of hamming because you will tend to go out and buy a first class rig rather than try to make do with a klunker in case you fail to upgrade.

   1980 October 29, Wayne Green, “W2NSD/1 NEVER SAY DIE”, in 73 Magazine for Radio Amateurs, page 244

   1. USA decrepit and unreliable car.

      1 more example

      But sometimes, in trying to keep the ticket down (when the Customer explains that he only wants the old klunker to run as far as the dealer’s lot so he can trade it in) we take a chance and only do a valve job when it really needs a ring job, too. […] We think we’re doing about as careful and conscientious a job as it is possible to do in this business, but that man with the smokey klunker makes as much (verbal) noise as a couple of dozen of our Regular Customers!

      1961 December 13, The Sterling Automotive Service, This will surprise you! Did you know that it is possible to try TOO hard to help people?, page 49

   2. USA machine built purely out of necessity from salvaged, donated, or outdated parts.
   3. USbroadly(computing) A Franken-PC; a Frankensteined system thrown together using mismatched or outdated leftover parts.

      1 more example

      VB is a rich, extensible, event-driven programming environment in which user interaction is paramount. By contrast, this Excel dialect of VBA is a stringent, top-to-bottom klunker that is not even in VB’s league. Creating a decent interface in VBA, you’ll shortly see, can be described—charitably—as challenging.

      1994 February 28, Ziff-Davis Publishing, “Working Toward Detente in the War Between Excel and Word for Windows”, in PC Computing Magazine Volume 7 Issue 2, page 252

   4. UScomputingAn old, slow, or decrepit computer; a clunker.

      The Microsoft ME editor shipped with the MASM 5.0 also seems to be a klunker.

      1988, People's Computer Company, Dr. Dobb's Journal Vol 13, page 449

   5. USslangmountain bikingA heavy, balloon-tire bicycle (usually vintage cruisers) that is modified with motorcycle parts and used for extreme off-roading down mountains; these bikes are widely considered the very first mountain bikes.First known use 1970s
2. Alternative letter-case form of Klunker.
3. Synonym of klinker or clinker.

   Synonyms: klinker, clinker