English

Noun

rubberneck ‎(plural rubbernecks)

1. Someone who engages in rubbernecking, or turning and staring.
2. (US, obsolete) A tourist.
3. Someone or something with a flexible neck.
   • 1912, Edward C. Wood, Electrically Operated Bell for Submarine Signaling , US Patent 1186961, line 57:

     "A suitable washer B1 and rubberneck B2, both of well known description, are provided to form with clapper arm B3 a watertight joint..."

   • 1972, Can Themba, The Will to Die ,page 59:

     "'Hi, rubberneck!' -- he clutched at her pear-like breast jutting from her sweater — 'how long did you think you'll duck me?'"

Translations

Derived terms

• rubberneck bus

See also

• bystander
• leatherneck
• onlooker
• redneck
• roughneck

Verb

rubberneck ‎(third-person singular simple present rubbernecks, present participle rubbernecking, simple past and past participle rubbernecked)

1. To watch by craning the neck (as though it were made of rubber), especially if the observer and observed are in motion relative to each other.

   The driver was so busy rubbernecking, trying to get a good view of the accident, that he was almost part of another accident.

Translations

Derived terms

• rubbernecker