hitter
UK: ˈhɪtə | US: ˈhɪtər
n. a person or thing that hits
n. (baseball) a player whose turn it is to bat
n. (informal) a successful or forceful person
The word "hitter" is formed by combining the verb "hit," derived from Old English hyttan (to strike or collide), with the agentive suffix "-er," which indicates a person or thing performing an action. This structure follows a common pattern in English for creating nouns denoting agents (e.g., "runner," "writer"). The term evolved naturally to describe someone who hits, particularly in sports like baseball, where it specifies a player responsible for batting.
The boxer is known as a powerful hitter in the ring.
The team’s best hitter scored three home runs.
She’s a heavy hitter in the business world.
The machine acts as an automatic hitter in the factory.
As a cleanup hitter, his role is crucial for the team’s success.