knocker-upper

English

Etymology

By a regular pattern for (informal) nouns seen also in similar forms, such as fixer-upper and cleaner-upper; the sire sense involves an extra degree of wordplay, as an alternative surface analysis of knock (h)er up + -er is playfully apparent (who knocked 'er up?).

Noun

knocker-upper (plural knocker-uppers)

1. Alternative form of knocker-up (person who knocks to awaken in the morning).
2. (informal, humorous) The male who has sired a pregnancy.

   Synonyms: sire, father, dad, daddy, baby daddy

   What, Shelley is pregnant?! Who's the knocker-upper? [ = Who's the father?]