the term 'wanker' is a relatively modern english slang formation. its first element, 'wank', is a vulgar verb of uncertain but likely british origin from the early 20th century, possibly imitative or a variant of dialectal words. this verb was combined with the prolific agentive suffix '-er', of old english and germanic descent, which commonly forms nouns denoting a person associated with an action. the word's primary literal meaning, referring to a person who masturbates, evolved through figurative extension into a common term of insult, implying self-absorption, worthlessness, or contemptible behavior, particularly in british and commonwealth english.

Structure: wank (vulgar slang for masturbate) + er (agent noun suffix) wank (origin uncertain, likely from 20th century British slang, possibly imitative or related to 'whang'); er (from Old English -ere, agent noun suffix, from Proto-Germanic -ārijaz, indicating a person who performs an action)