rigger
UK[ˈrɪɡə]US[ˈrɪɡər]
n
A person who rigs or sets up equipment, especially the ropes and sails on a ship or the cables and structures for lifting heavy loads.
n
A person who illegally arranges or manipulates a situation, especially an election or a competition, to produce a desired result.
Morpheme Breakdown
rig
er
rig
to fit out
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'rigger' has a nautical heart, built upon the verb 'rig' which entered Middle English, probably from Old Norse, with the sense of fitting a ship with sails and ropes. The agent suffix '-er', of ancient Germanic lineage, is then appended to specify the person who performs this task. Over time, as the concept of 'rigging' expanded from ships to the assembly of any complex mechanical structure like cranes or theatrical sets, so did the role of the 'rigger'. This literal sense of assembling equipment later gave rise to the figurative meaning of manipulating a situation, drawing a parallel between setting up physical apparatus and fraudulently arranging an event's outcome.
Analysis
Structure: rig (to fit out) + er (agent suffix)
rig: Of uncertain origin, likely from a Scandinavian source (e.g., Old Norse rigga "to bind, wrap"). Functions as the core verb meaning to fit with ropes, gear, or apparatus.
er: From Old English -ere, a Germanic agent-noun suffix. Functions to denote a person who performs the action of the verb.
Examples
The ship's rigger expertly climbed the mast to repair the damaged sail.
A team of riggers was hired to assemble the scaffolding for the concert stage.
The election was declared void after it was discovered that a political rigger had tampered with the ballot boxes.