drummer

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A housebreaker.

Register: slang

Examples

Bennett's central figure, Ray, is first and foremost a serial "drummer" (housebreaker in crim-speak), and only secondly a human being, […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A travelling salesman.

Register: dated, slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “drummer” mean?

A housebreaker.

Is “drummer” formal or informal?

drummer is generally slang.