ditcher
Canal excavation machine
A ditcher is a person who digs ditches or a machine designed for that purpose.
The word also means someone who abandons or gets rid of something—from the verb ditch meaning to discard: He's a serial ditcher who never finishes what he starts.
In dating contexts, a ditcher stands someone up or abruptly ends a relationship.
One who abandons duty
- quitterOne who surrenders
- forsakerOne who deserts
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
dropout · absconder · betrayer · turncoat · apostate · backslider · rat · rejector
Hinged-arm excavating machine
- earthmoverHeavy digging machinery
- shovelTool for moving earth
- spadeFlat-bladed digging implement
- bulldozerBladed vehicle pushing earth
grader · scraper · hydraulic · earthwork · digging · construction · groundwork · loader
Manual excavation worker
- shovelerOne who uses a spade
- gravediggerOne who digs burial plots
- groundworkerManual earth-moving laborer
- diggerOne who unearths
toiler · hand · peon · worker · manual · pickaxe · mattock · hoe
Tunnel for water passage
- channelPassage for transmission
- drainfieldWastewater absorption area
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- runoffExcess water drainage
waterway · gutter · spillway · outfall · stormwater · sewerage · catchment · dyke
deserter
One who abandons duty
renegade · dropout · absconder · betrayer · turncoat · apostate · backslider · rat · rejector · repudiator
backhoe
Hinged-arm excavating machine
- earthmoverHeavy digging machinery
- shovelTool for moving earth
- spadeFlat-bladed digging implement
bulldozer · grader · scraper · hydraulic · earthwork · digging · construction · groundwork · loader · bucket
navvy
Manual excavation worker
- shovelerOne who uses a spade
- gravediggerOne who digs burial plots
- groundworkerManual earth-moving laborer
digger · toiler · hand · peon · worker · manual · pickaxe · mattock · hoe
culvert
Tunnel for water passage
- channelPassage for transmission
- drainfieldWastewater absorption area
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
runoff · waterway · gutter · spillway · outfall · stormwater · sewerage · catchment · dyke · levee
- digging toolsshovel, spade, pickaxe, mattock, hoe
- old occupationsblacksmith, carpenter, miller, farmer, shepherd
- rural jobsfarmer, rancher, shepherd, farmhand, cowherd
- farmworkersfarmhand, farmworker, farm laborer, field hand, farm hand
- absenteestruant, no-show, AWOL soldier, skipper, absconder
- medieval villagersfarmer, shepherd, peasant, villager, milkmaid
ditcherloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
stayer · keeper · faithful friend · loyal friend · ride-or-die
- last ditchFinal desperate attempt
- last-ditch effortFinal attempt before failure
- ditch diggerOne who excavates channels
- ding-dong ditchRing doorbell, then hide
- ding-dong ditchingPrank ringing then hiding
- ding dong ditchPranking by ringing doorbells