digger
UK: ˈdɪɡə | US: ˈdɪɡər
n. a person or machine that digs (e.g., excavates soil or mines)
n. (informal) an enthusiastic or obsessive fan (e.g., "a music digger")
The word "digger" originates from the verb "dig," which traces back to Old English dīcian (to dig a ditch) and Proto-Germanic dīkijaną. The suffix "-er" is a productive agentive suffix in English, turning verbs into nouns denoting performers of the action. Over time, "digger" expanded from literal excavation (e.g., miners, archaeologists) to metaphorical uses (e.g., "truth diggers").
The construction crew used a mechanical digger to excavate the foundation.
Gold diggers rushed to California during the 1849 Gold Rush.
She’s a digger for vintage vinyl records, always hunting rare finds.
The archaeologist worked as a digger at the ancient Roman site.
The badger is a natural digger, creating intricate underground burrows.