pipe-hitter

plural pipe-hitters · alternative pipe hitter · alternative pipehitter

1. informalA person that smokes drugs (especially opium) from a pipe.

   And so in his indolent way he drifted gradually into the habit and became a confirmed "pipe-hitter."

   1912, Thomas Watson Houston, Mey Wing: A Romance of Cathay, page 83

   3 more examples

   We had several exhibitions of opium smoking, or "hitting the pipe." Every "pipe-hitter" seemed to feel glorious.

   1897, “San Francisco: The Golden Gate as Seen Through New York Eyes”, in The Tammany Times, volumes 10-11, page 4

   I frequently play 'em to 'double out' but I've been playing 'colors' lately, for they've had me locked up with a drunken coon, a Greaser horse-thief, and a Chinese pipe-hitter.

   1988, Charles Leland Sonnichsen, Pilgrim in the Sun: A Southwestern Omnibus

   In the days that followed, we heard from here and there that the pipe-hitter survived but ended up spending a considerably longer time in the hospital than I did.

   2010, Arno Michaels, My Life After Hate, page 44

2. informalAn intrepid individual; a go-getter.

   I'll build you a team of pipe-hitters who'll do anything you can dream up.

   2016, Marc Wolfman, Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization

   2 more examples

   This guy is one serious tackdriving pipe-hitter. If we're going to go after somebody this experienced, this dangerous, I think we deserve to know what he's really up to.

   2008, Brad Thor, The First Commandment

   Despite his outer appearance of a hard-charging pipehitter, Sahil had a genuine gift for empathy.

   2015, Jay Posey, Sungrazer

3. informalslanggovernmentA skilled and intimidating soldier.