striker

plural strikers

1. A person who is on strike, someone who has stopped working as a protest.

   Synonyms: turnout

2. Someone or something that hits someone or something else.
   1. A blacksmith's assistant who wields the sledgehammer.

      The striker's job was onerous, too, because there was so little "give" in the metal, and the perpetual jarring was indeed trying to the muscles.

      1945 January and February, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—III”, in Railway Magazine, page 13

   2. A piece used to push other pieces toward the pockets in the Asian game of carom.
   3. A piece of metal struck against a flint or ferrocerium to produce sparks.

      Synonyms: firestriker, steel, firesteel

   4. A piece of rough material on which matches are struck (that is, against which the matchhead is rubbed).
   5. A piece of metal used to attract a magnet, or as a keeper for a magnet.
   6. engineeringA mechanism of a firearm acting upon the firing pin.
3. ball gamesOne of the players on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.

   Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Nemanja Matic and Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan have each been handed two-game bans with a further two matches suspended after they concealed Ligue 1’s anti-homophobia insignia on their shirts, the French top-flight said.

   2025 June 6, “Soccer players given two-game bans after concealing anti-homophobia badge”, in CNN, sourced from Reuters, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2025

   1 more example

   Olympiakos had barely been in the Arsenal half but should have levelled in the 14th minute. A low corner was not dealt with and the ball fell to the feet of striker Rafik Djebbour, who saw his close-range effort brilliantly cleared from the goalline by Arteta.

   2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 04 Feb 2023

   Synonyms: forward, attacker, centre forward, front man

4. slanggovernmentAn officer's servant or orderly.

   "Dog-robber" has a definite significance to some army men; but unless one has spent some time in uniform he will probably have to search long for its meaning: an officer's servant or striker.

   1921, Franklyn Bliss Snyder, Ronald Salmon Crane, The English of Business, page 90

5. slangball gamesThe batter.
6. ball gamesThe batsman who is currently facing the bowler and defending his wicket.
7. obsoleteA harpoon.
8. obsoleteA harpooner.

   [W]here ever we come to an Anchor, we always ſend out our Strikers, and put out Hooks and Lines overboard, to try for Fiſh.

   1697, William Dampier, chapter V, in A New Voyage Round the World. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, pages 117–118

9. obsoleteAn inexperienced member of a ship's crew.

   Synonyms: green hand

10. obsoleteA wencher; a lewd man.

    'Twill prove a notable striker, like his father.

    c. 1621–6, Philip Massinger, “The Unnatural Combat”, in William Gifford, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, published 1845, act 4, scene 2, page 54

    Synonyms: promiscuous man

11. obsoletegovernmentA blackmailer in politics.
12. obsoletegovernmentOne whose political influence can be bought.

plural Strikers

1. A surname.