banker
UK[ˈbæŋkə(r)]US[ˈbæŋkər]
n
A person who owns a bank or has an important position in a bank.
n
The player who keeps the bank in some gambling games.
Morpheme Breakdown
bank
er
bank
financial institution
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'banker' is a transparent compound formed within English by adding the native agent suffix '-er' to the noun 'bank'. The noun 'bank' itself has a fascinating journey, originating from the Old Italian 'banca', meaning a bench or counter used by money changers. This Italian term is believed to be derived from a Germanic source, related to the word 'bench'. The literal image of a moneychanger's table evolved by metonymy to signify the financial institution itself. Therefore, a 'banker' is, quite logically, "one who works at or operates a bank," with the '-er' suffix straightforwardly assigning the professional role.
Analysis
Structure: bank (financial institution) + er (agent suffix)
- bank: From Middle English banke, from Old Italian banca ("counter, moneychanger's table"), of Germanic origin. The core sense is a financial institution.
- er: From Old English -ere, an agent-noun suffix indicating "one who does or works with something."
Examples
She had a meeting with her banker to discuss a business loan.
The banker advised the couple on their mortgage options.
In the game of Monopoly, one player acts as the banker, managing the money.