English Meaning & Definitions
A person who is stingy or avoids spending money; someone who does things on a small, cautious, or unadventurous scale.
- “Don't be such a piker; leave a decent tip for the server.”
- “He started as a small-time piker at the racetrack, never betting more than two dollars.”
A person who withdraws from a commitment or fails to follow through on an agreement.
- “We had a deal, but he turned out to be a piker and backed out at the last minute.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “piker”.
Originating in late 19th-century American English, the term likely derives from 'pike' (a turnpike or toll road). It originally referred to a 'pike-man' or a traveler who avoided tolls by taking back roads, eventually evolving to describe someone who is stingy, avoids paying their fair share, or is a cautious, small-time gambler.
Think of a 'piker' as someone who 'pikes' (hikes) away from the bill to avoid paying.
Frequently Asked Questions About “piker”
1. What is the meaning of “piker” in English?
In English, piker (noun) is defined as: “A person who is stingy or avoids spending money; someone who does things on a small, cautious, or unadventurous scale.”.
2. How do you use “piker” in a sentence?
“Don't be such a piker; leave a decent tip for the server.”
3. What are English synonyms of “piker”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “piker”?
Originating in late 19th-century American English, the term likely derives from 'pike' (a turnpike or toll road). It originally referred to a 'pike-man' or a traveler who avoided tolls by taking back roads, eventually evolving to describe someone who is stingy, avoids paying their fair share, or is a cautious, small-time gambler.
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