Meaning of knobstick | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A stick with a rounded knob at the end.
2. One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trade union.
   slang

Examples

“The “Budd”, or Somali club, resembles the Kafir “Tonga”. It is a knobstick, about a cubit long, made of some hard wood: the head is rounded on the inside, and the outside is cut⟳ to an edge.”

“‘Don’t you see⟳ what you would be? You’d be a knobstick. You'd be taking less wages than the other labourers—all for the sake of another man’s children. Think⟳ how you’d abuse any poor fellow who was willing to take⟳ what he could get⟳ to keep⟳ his own⟳ children. You and your Union would soon be down upon him […]’”

“The mill agents, it was rumored, supplied the knobsticks with beer and whiskey, fearing to let⟳ them walk⟳ the streets.”

CEFR level