n. [ OE. biker; akin to Icel. bikarr, Sw. bägare, Dan. baeger, G. becher, It. bicchiere; -- all fr. LL. bicarium, prob. fr. Gr. bi^kos wine jar, or perh. L. bacar wine vessel. Cf. Pitcher a jug. ] 1. A large drinking cup, with a wide mouth, supported on a foot or standard. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An open-mouthed, thin glass vessel, having a projecting lip for pouring; -- used for holding solutions requiring heat. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who bespeaks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, breaks. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll be no breaker of the law. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: A machine for breaking rocks, or for breaking coal at the mines; also, the building in which such a machine is placed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A small water cask. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wave breaking into foam against the shore, or against a sand bank, or a rock or reef near the surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

The breakers were right beneath her bows. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. a quarry worker who splits off blocks of stone.
Syn. -- ledgeman. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Elec.) A device contained within an electrical circuit designed to interrupt the circuit when the current exceeds a preset value; it is sometimes called a contact breaker. Its function is to prevent fire or damage to the circuit or the devices on the circuit which could be caused by excess current, such as that caused by a short-circuit. It differs from a fuse in not having a conducting element which melts (see 2nd fuse, n.). Circuit breakers are designed to be easily reset, i. e. to reclose the circuit after it has been opened by the circuit breaker; this is usually accomplished by simply moving a switch back and forth. They are commonly used in buildings to protect individual electrical lines, and are often contained in groups within a box called a circuit breaker panel, which divides the current from a main electrical line into multiple circuits each protected by a separate circuit breaker. Less commonly they may be found on individual devices. [ PJC ]

n. One who is guilty of the crime of housebreaking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a ship with a reinforced bow and powerful engines designed to break up layers of ice on waterways and keep channels open for navigation.
Syn. -- iceboat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A remark or action intended to relieve tension or reduce formality when initiating conversation or beginning a speech; it is often a humorous or light remark. [ PJC ]

n. One who disobeys the law; someone who violates the law; a criminal.
Syn. -- violator, lawbreaker, law breaker, perpetrator. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

-- Law"break`ing, n. & a. [1913 Webster]

n. A device which converts electrical signals into sounds loud enough to be heard at a distance, usually outdoors; it is used to amplify or transmit over a distance speech from a person, who is typically speaking into a microphone. Sometimes it is used to play recorded speech or music.
Syn. -- speaker, speaker unit, loudspeaker system, speaker system. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The European nuthatch. (b) The nutcracker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disturbs the public peace. -- Peace"break`ing, n. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. One who sneaks. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A vessel of drink. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A sneaker of five gallons. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A type of soft shoe with a flat, pliable, typically rubber or other soft sole, and canvas-like upper, used in sports such as tennis, or for comfort. Called sneaker because they give no warning of one's approach. Usually used in the pl. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

4. A punch bowl. [ Obs. ] Spectator. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. One who speaks. Specifically: (a) One who utters or pronounces a discourse; usually, one who utters a speech in public; as, the man is a good speaker, or a bad speaker. (b) One who is the mouthpiece of others; especially, one who presides over, or speaks for, a delibrative assembly, preserving order and regulating the debates; as, the Speaker of the House of Commons, originally, the mouthpiece of the House to address the king; the Speaker of a House of Representatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A book of selections for declamation. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of speaker; as, the speakership of the House of Representatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, squeaks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The Australian gray crow shrike (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (a) A contest won by a small margin. (b) A narrow escape from harm. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]

n. One who violates a truce, covenant, or engagement. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Wreak. ] Avenger. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The stork, the wrekere of avouterye [ adultery ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]