shaker
UK: ˈʃeɪkə | US: ˈʃeɪkər
n. a container used for mixing ingredients by shaking
n. a person or thing that shakes something
n. (informal) a member of the Shakers, a religious group
The word "shaker" combines the verb "shake," derived from Old English sceacan (meaning "to move forcefully"), with the agentive suffix "-er," which denotes a person or object performing an action. Originally used to describe a person who shakes (e.g., "a shaker of salt"), it later specialized to refer to containers designed for shaking (e.g., "cocktail shaker"). The term also became associated with the 18th-century religious group, the Shakers, known for their ecstatic trembling during worship.
She used a cocktail shaker to mix the drink.
The earthquake turned the city into a shaker.
He’s a real shaker—always stirring up new ideas.
The Shakers were known for their simple furniture designs.
Pass me the salt shaker, please.