the word 'spoiler' is a transparent compound formed within english from the verb 'spoil' and the agentive suffix '-er'. the verb 'spoil' entered english from old french 'espoillier', which itself derives from latin 'spoliare', meaning 'to strip, plunder, or rob'. the latin root is 'spolium', signifying 'skin stripped from an animal' or, by extension, 'booty'. the suffix '-er' is a native germanic element used to form nouns denoting an agent. the modern senses of 'spoiler' logically extend from the core idea of 'one who spoils': initially describing a person who plunders or ruins things, it later specialized in aeronautics for a device that 'spoils' smooth airflow, and in modern media for information that 'ruins' narrative surprise.

Structure: spoil + er spoil (from middle english 'spoilen', meaning to plunder or damage, of latin origin via old french) + er (agent noun suffix, from old english '-ere', of germanic origin, indicating a person or thing that performs an action).