General
tinknocker
What does tinknocker mean?
A sheet-metal mechanic — the trade that fabricates and installs HVAC ductwork, flashing, gutters, and anything else hammered out of sheet steel or aluminium. The name comes from the constant racket of mallets on tin. Worn as a badge by union sheet-metal workers; rude in the wrong mouth.
"Get a tinknocker out here, the duct run doesn't line up with the air handler."
Origin
American trades slang, late 19th/early 20th century — literal: workers who knocked tin sheets into shape.
Frequently asked questions
What does "tinknocker" mean?
It's a term for a sheet-metal worker — ducting, flashing, and anything else bent from sheet metal.
How do you use "tinknocker" in a sentence?
"The tinknockers had all the flashing done by lunch."
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