What is a coker?

Question

What is a coker?All we know it`s something to do with canals.

Please help.

Answer 1

Just what it sounds like. A "Coker" is a canal barge that used to carry Coke (Coal baked to drain or vapourise off the impurites, used in steel making... like Charcoal used to be)

PS also used as fuelling barges for other steam powered canal barges... see link for an example.

PPS AAHHH I geddit. "Koker" is a dutch word for "Vessel" or "Container" and maybe that's what they call their canal boats... although in Africkaans it seems to be used for "Cesspit" and "Cistern!"...most practical application is "Sluice Gate", although that's from Guyana...see second link

hmmm a "Container" could be defined as something that "contains" a canal, like a gate... and the Dutch built a lot of the original waterways in England.. it would make sense that some of the words transfered over to local dialects, so "sluice gate" seems the most logical solution.

Answer 2

ITS ONE OF THEM PEOPLE WITH THE HATS AND HOODED JACKETS WHAT HANG AROUND THE CANAL BRIDGE AT NIGHT

Answer 3

Erm... the only thing I could come up with is that it is the surname of someone related to canals...

The website below states that Sailcloth for ships including Nelson's fleet was supplied by Coker.

It seems to be quite a common name.

Tis not a dog - that is a Cocker Spaniel.

Answer 4

english "coker" spaniel?, a type of dog

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbvi...