piker

== English == === Etymology === From pike +‎ -er. In some senses, it has been linked etymologically to the word pikey as well as to Pike County in eastern Missouri [1]. In the latter instance the term originally denoted poor immigrants to California. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈpaɪkə(ɹ)/ Rhymes: -aɪkə(ɹ) === Noun === piker (plural pikers) (military, historical) A soldier armed with a pike, a pikeman. One who bets or gambles only with small amounts of money. Hypernym: punter (chiefly Commonwealth) Antonym: high roller A stingy person; a cheapskate. Antonyms: spendthrift, baller (African American Vernacular) An amateur. (Australia) A bullock living in the wild. (Also used attributively.) [from 19th c.] (Australia, New Zealand, slang) One who refuses to go out with friends, or leaves a party early; a spoilsport or "chicken". [from 20th c.] (Australia, New Zealand, slang) One who pikes (quits or backs out of a promise). Synonyms: break-promise, reneger; see also Thesaurus:oathbreaker (US, dated) A male freshman at Cornell University. A tramp; a vagrant. Synonym: pike ==== Quotations ==== The 2000 film Boiler Room makes reference to "pikers" in the following excerpt: So now you know what's possible, let me tell you what's required. You are required to work your fucking ass off at this firm. We want winners here, not pikers. A piker walks at the bell. A piker asks how much vacation time you get in the first year. Vacation time? People come to work at this firm for one reason: to become filthy rich; that's it. We're not here to make friends; we're not saving the fucking manatees here, guys. You want vacation time, go teach third grade at a public school. (wav, mp3) === References === === Anagrams === Kiper == Middle English == === Alternative forms === pycker, pikere, pyker, pykare === Etymology === From piken +‎ -ere (suffix forming agent nouns). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈpikər(ə)/, /ˈpiːkər(ə)/ === Noun === piker (plural pikers) A robber or pickpocket. ==== References ==== “pī̆ker(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 8 May 2018. == Norwegian Bokmål == === Noun === piker m or f indefinite plural of pike == Walloon == === Etymology === Compare French piquer. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /pi.ke/ === Verb === piker to prick to sting