Horners

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A plural noun referring to people who craft or sell items made from horn or who work in the horn trade; it may also denote those engaged in activities related to animal horn use
2. A term for individuals involved in the trade of horn-based products, which may include tools, crafts, or decorative items fashioned from horns; it can also imply involvement in specific craftsmanship
3. Referring to those who specialize in utilizing or selling horn materials, often employed in creating various objects or in historical contexts where horns were commonly used for purposes like making utensils

Etymology: "Horners" is simply the plural of "horner," a name for a craftsman who worked in horn, shaping it into combs, cups, spoons, lanterns and similar objects. The word traces to Middle English "hornere," formed from "horn" and the agent suffix "-er," so a horner was literally one who deals with horn, much as a baker deals with bread. Horn itself was once an everyday material, valued for being tough, light and easy to shape when heated, which is why it turned up in so many household items before plastic and metal replaced it. The trade name therefore records a time when a large share of ordinary tools and containers were made from animal horn rather than from anything manufactured in a factory.