big-leaguer
UK[ˈbɪɡ liːɡə]US[ˈbɪɡ liːɡər]
n
A player in a major league, especially in professional baseball.
n
A person or organization of major importance or influence in a particular field.
Morpheme Breakdown
big
league
er
big
powerful, strong
league
er
Etymology
The term 'big-leaguer' is a distinctly American compound originating in the late 19th century from the world of professional baseball. It literally combines 'big,' denoting the highest level of competition, with 'league,' referring to the organized association of teams, and the agent suffix '-er' to designate a participant. The logic is transparent: a player in the 'big leagues' is a 'big-leaguer.' Over time, the term's semantic field expanded metaphorically beyond sports. It now also signifies any person or entity of major stature or influence within a given domain, carrying the connotation of having reached the top tier of that field.
Analysis
Structure: big + league + er
big (Old English: beag meaning 'powerful, strong') - An adjective used attributively to denote the highest or most important level.
league (Latin: ligare 'to bind') - A noun meaning a group of people, organizations, or countries united for a common purpose.
er (Old English: -ere agent noun suffix) - A suffix forming nouns denoting a person or thing associated with an action or quality.
Examples
After years in the minors, he finally earned his call-up and became a big-leaguer.
In the world of venture capital, she is considered a true big-leaguer.
The company's new CEO is a big-leaguer with a reputation for turning businesses around.