-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.

113 / 113

noun

zapper

ZAP-ur/ˈzæpər/

A device that uses an electric shock or beam to kill or disable something.

The zapper kills flying insects that touch its electric grid.

An enclosed electric insect zapper attracts a few small insects to its blue-lit grid.

Etymology

zappEnglishkill, do away with

+erEnglisha person or thing that does something

Zap imitates the imagined sound of a science-fiction ray weapon and became a verb meaning “kill.” Zapper probably names an electrical insect-killer as a thing that performs that action.

In context

Sara Scott Shops0:10

This is just after one night of using this solar bug zapper.

All in 1 Solar Bug Zapper Outdoor, Flame & Projection Mode, Auto/Manual Modes, 4200V Electric Mosqui

More examples

Unplug the zapper before cleaning out the dead bugs.
These handheld zappers run on batteries.
In the game, her zapper disables robots with an electric beam.

Forms

zapper · zappers

zap verb — To kill or disable with electricity.

Similar words

bug zapper: Specifically kills flying insects with an electrically charged grid.
stun gun: Specifically disables a person with an electric shock.