kicker
UK: ˈkɪkə | US: ˈkɪkər
n. 1. A person or thing that kicks.
n. 2. (Informal) An unexpected or surprising conclusion or twist.
n. 3. (Sports) A player who kicks the ball, especially in football or soccer.
The word "kicker" originates from the verb "kick," which dates back to Middle English kiken, likely of Scandinavian origin (compare Old Norse kikna, meaning "to bend backward"). The suffix "-er" is an Old English agentive suffix used to denote a person or thing performing an action. Over time, "kicker" evolved to describe not only someone who kicks but also metaphorical twists or surprises, reflecting the "impact" of an unexpected event.
The soccer team’s kicker scored the winning goal.
The movie had a real kicker at the end that no one saw coming.
He’s the best kicker on the football team.
The joke’s kicker made everyone laugh.
She’s known as the kicker in her rugby squad for her powerful strikes.