rock·er / ˈräkər/ • n. 1. a person who performs, dances to, or enjoys rock music, esp. of a particular type: a punk rocker. ∎  a rock song.2. a thing that rocks, in particular: ∎  a rocking chair. ∎  a rocking device forming part of a mechanism, esp. one for controlling the positions of brushes in a generator.3. a curved bar or similar support on which something such as a chair or cradle can rock.4. the amount of curvature in the longitudinal contour of a boat or surfboard.5. any of the curved stripes below the chevron of a noncommissioned officer above the rank of sergeant. ∎  the curved strip above the chevron of a chief petty officer.PHRASES: off one's rocker inf. insane.

ROCKER

ROCKER , U.S. family in Cleveland. samuel rocker (1864–1936), who was born in Goerlitz, Austria, emigrated to the United States in 1891. Five years later he founded the Jewish Star, a Yiddish newspaper, in Cleveland and in 1908 he founded the Jewish Daily Press (later Jewish Daily World, 1913), serving as editor and publisher of this first successful Yiddish newspaper in Cleveland. The World, published until 1943, became a spokesman for the East European Jews in the city. Samuel Rocker wrote Divrei Ḥakhamim ("Words of Our Sages," 1920), among other works.

His son, henry a. rocker (1883–1967), born in Hungary, practiced law with the firm Rocker, Zeller … Kleinman. He served as president of Park Synagogue congregation for more than 20 years beginning in 1929; president of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Cleveland; member of the board of directors, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from 1948 to his death; and member of the board of overseers of the Jewish Theological Seminary from 1951 to his death.