sucker

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
  2. noun a shoot arising from a plant's roots
  3. noun a drinker who sucks (as at a nipple or through a straw)

Etymology

From Middle English souker, sokere, sukkere, soukere, equivalent to suck (verb) + -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Suuger, West Frisian sûker (“sucker”), Dutch zuiger (“sucker”), German Sauger (“dummy; vacuum”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

chump, fool, gull, mark, patsy, fall guy, soft touch, mug

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