digger

dig·ger  (dgr)

n.

1.

a. A person or animal that digs: a digger of gardens; a digger for information.

b. A tool or machine used for digging or excavating.

2. Informal

a. A soldier from Australia in World War I and World War II.

b. A soldier from New Zealand in World War I.

3. also Digger or Digger Indian Offensive Used as a disparaging term, especially in the 19th century, for a member of any of various Native American peoples of the Great Basin, such as the Utes, Paiutes, and Western Shoshones.

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[Sense 3, from their use of digging sticks as foraging tools.]

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digger

Noun

a machine used for excavation

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	digger - a laborer who digs ditch digger, mud digger - a laborer who digs ditches laborer, labourer, manual laborer, jack - someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor trencher - someone who digs trenches
	2.	digger - a machine for excavating power shovel, excavator, shovel backhoe - an excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn backward to move earth dredge - a power shovel to remove material from a channel or riverbed machine - any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks steam shovel - a power shovel that is driven by steam