-er

a person or thing that does something

Forms

-er
-r — Used after some bases ending in e.

Origin

Old English -ere, generally traced through Germanic to Latin -arius.

Note

It can name a tool as readily as a person. The comparison ending in taller has a different history.

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noun

shooter

SHOO-ter/ˈʃuːtər/

A person who fires a projectile.

The shooter fires a handgun at a target on the outdoor range.

A middle-aged South Asian man fires a handgun toward a plain target at a controlled outdoor shooting range, with a small puff of muzzle smoke making the action clear.

Etymology

shootOld Englishshoot, dart, or move swiftly

+erEnglisha person or thing that does something

The shoot root and person-marking ending name whoever discharges a projectile. The word already described someone shooting arrows; its use for a gun user carries the same role over to firearms.

In context

TYT's The Conversation0:51

when I was seven I saw a child shot and murdered in front of my home I knew the victim I knew the shooter

Anti-gun Violence Activist Takes the Fight to Washington

More examples

All shooters must wear eye and ear protection.
She is the most accurate shooter on our basketball team.
Police are still searching for the shooter.

Forms

shooter · shooters

shoot verb — To fire a projectile from a weapon.

Similar words

marksman: Emphasizes skill and accuracy in shooting at a target.
gunman: Specifically means a man with a gun, often committing violence.