noun
digger
DIH-guh
noun
1
A machine used for digging, such as an excavator.
"A digger cleared the site before construction began."
2
A person who digs, especially for a living.
"The gold digger panned the river for hours without luck."
3
(Australia, New Zealand, informal) A soldier, or a friendly term for a man.
""G'day, digger," he said, greeting an old army mate."
How to Use Digger
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that digs — a person, or heavy machinery; informally, an Australian term for a soldier or mate.
Word Forms
diggers plural, Diggers plural, Diggers plural
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A _____ cleared the site before construction began.
Etymology
From dig plus the agent suffix -er. The Australian/New Zealand soldier sense comes from the trench-digging soldiers did in World War I.