plunger

From plunge +‎ -er.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈplʌnd͡ʒə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈplʌnd͡ʒɚ/

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plunger (plural plungers)

1. A device that is used to remove blockages from the drain of a basin or tub, by suction.
2. The internal piece of a syringe that pushes out or pulls in any contents.
3. The sliding activator of an exploder, an electrical generator used to trigger electrical detonators such as blasting caps.
4. Certain equipment for brewing coffee.
   1. The part of a cafetière that is pushed down to remove grounds from coffee.
   2. A cafetière, through abbreviation of coffee plunger.
5. One who plunges; a diver.
6. A horse that plunges, or throws itself suddenly forward.
7. (military) A cavalryman.
8. A device similar to a piston but without a mechanism; a long solid cylinder used, instead of a piston or bucket, as a forcer in pumps.
9. The moving portion of a solenoid.
10. (pinball) The spring-loaded assembly that propels the ball onto the table.
11. (dated, slang) A reckless gambler or gamble.
    • 1925, John Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer, New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, 2nd section, page 146:

      Well I suppose there's not one of you gentlemen here who hasnt^[sic] at some time or other taken a plunger, and how many of you hasnt^[sic] come back sadder and wiser.

12. (pottery) A boiler in which clay is beaten by a wheel to a creamy consistency.
    • 1862, Examples of the Architecture of the Victorian Age […] , (Please provide the book title or journal name):

      Another part of the invention relates to making articles of earthenware by a plunger, which is forced into a mould

13. (firearms) The firing pin of a breechloader.

• (device): plumber's helper (colloquial), plumber's friend (colloquial)

plunger

1. (Anglo-Norman) Alternative form of plongier

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. In the present tense an extra supporting e is needed in the first-person singular indicative and throughout the singular subjunctive, and the third-person singular subjunctive ending -t is lost. In addition, g becomes j before an a or an o to keep the /dʒ/ sound intact. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Borrowed from French plunger.

plunger n (plural plungere)

1. plunger