sockdolager

Meaning

Noun

• a hard hit, a knockout or finishing blow, or conclusive argument.
• Something large or otherwise exceptional; a whopper.
• A combination of two hooks which close upon each other, by means of a spring, as soon as the fish bites.

Origin

• Unknown, 1827 US, presumably fanciful variant of sock; compare contemporary fanciful American coinages.
• Various speculative etymologies have been suggested,