striker

Striker is a term used in several domains, including sports, firearms, and music. Its underlying sense is something or someone that delivers a strike, whether metaphorically (a goal-scoring player) or physically (a mechanism that produces an impact).

In association football, a striker is a forward whose primary duty is to score goals. They typically operate near the opponent's goal and are judged by finishing ability, positioning, and movement. Variants include the centre-forward and poacher; in some leagues, the term is used interchangeably with forward.

In firearms, the striker is the spring-loaded part that travels forward to strike the primer and ignite the propellant. In striker-fired designs, such as many modern handguns, there is no external hammer; instead, the striker provides the impact to initiate firing. Safety features and trigger pull characteristics vary by model.

In music and percussion, a striker (or mallet) is a tool used to strike a surface to produce sound. This includes drumsticks for drums and mallets for keyboard percussion such as xylophones and marimbas. In some string or keyboard instruments, a hammer or striker mechanism delivers the impact that produces tone.

The term can also denote a person who participates in a strike as part of labor action.