sockdolager

Definition

A hard hit, a knockout or finishing blow, or conclusive argument.

Etymology

Unknown, 1827 US, presumably fanciful variant of sock (“to hit”); compare contemporary fanciful American coinages. Various speculative etymologies have been suggested, such as corruption of doxology, due to this occurring at the end of church worship, hence “finality”.

Example Sentences

• "He’ll come off as badly as a feller I once hit a sledge hammer lick over the head—a real sogdolloger."
• "There is but one ‘sogdollager’ in the universe, and that is in Lake Oswego."
• ""I gave the fellow a socdolager over his head with the barrel of my gun,""