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Definition of moonshiner

moonshiner

/ˈmuːnˌʃaɪnər/
moon · shin · er
Plural:moonshiners
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moonshiner Lexical Profile

moonshiner Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A person who illegally distills, smuggles, or sells illicit alcoholic liquor, especially corn whiskey.

Example

"The local museum features an exhibit on a famous Appalachian moonshiner who operated hidden stills in the mountains during Prohibition."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for moonshiner

• Nearby Words

moonscape
moonset
moonshine
moonshiner
moonshining
moonship
moonshot

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 18th century from 'moonshine' and the agent suffix '-er', referring to the fact that illicit distilling and smuggling were traditionally carried out at night by the light of the moon to evade excise officers.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moonshiner. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moonshiner
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