bleeder
UK[ˈbliːdə(r)]US[ˈbliːdər]
n
A person who bleeds, especially one who bleeds heavily or suffers from a condition that causes excessive bleeding.
n
Informal. A person who is considered weak, overly sympathetic, or easily taken advantage of.
n
Technical. A valve or other device for releasing fluid or air from a system.
Morpheme Breakdown
bleed
er
bleed
to emit blood.
er
Etymology
The word "bleeder" is a transparent English compound built from the native Germanic verb "bleed" and the agentive suffix "-er." The verb "bleed" itself originates from the Old English blēdan, which is derived from the Proto-Germanic blōþijaną, meaning "to let blood." This, in turn, is connected to the Proto-Germanic blōþą (blood) and can be traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European root bhel- meaning "to thrive, bloom, swell," with an extended sense relating to the vital, pulsing fluid of life. The suffix "-er" is one of the most productive in English for forming agent nouns. Thus, the literal "one who bleeds" evolved naturally into specific modern meanings: a medical patient prone to hemorrhage, a technical device that releases fluid, and a slang term for a person perceived as emotionally or morally "leaking" strength or resources.
Analysis
Structure: bleed + er
bleed: From Old English blēdan, meaning "to emit blood." Its functional role is the verb root.
er: From Old English -ere, an agent noun suffix indicating "a person or thing that does something."
Examples
The hemophiliac was known to be a bleeder, requiring careful management of even minor injuries.
Don't be such a bleeder; you have to stand up for yourself in negotiations.
The mechanic opened the bleeder valve to remove air bubbles from the brake line.