skater
UK: ˈskeɪtə | US: ˈskeɪtər
n. a person who skates, especially on ice or roller skates
n. (informal) a skateboarder
skater = skate<glide on ice or wheels> + er<agent noun suffix>
- skate: Derived from Dutch schaats (originally "stilt, leg bone," later "ice skate"), from Old French escache ("stilt"). The shift in meaning reflects the blade's resemblance to a stilt.
- er: A common English suffix denoting "one who does" (e.g., runner, teacher).
Etymology Origin:
The word skater emerged in the 17th century, combining skate (borrowed from Dutch, where it evolved from a term for "stilt" to describe ice skates) with the agentive suffix -er. The logic traces how the Dutch schaats—originally a tool for walking on ice—merged into English to describe both the equipment and the action, later extending to roller and skateboard contexts.
The professional skater performed a flawless triple axel.
She’s been a competitive roller skater since childhood.
The park was full of skaters practicing tricks.
He bought new boots to become a better ice skater.
Skaters gathered at the ramp for the evening session.