▪ I. staker1
(ˈsteɪkə(r))
[f. stake v.1 + -er1.]
a. One who drives in a stake; one who uses a stake.
| 1486 [see sentre]. 1897 C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather xx. (ed. 2) 274 Should this occur, the staker's balance would be lost, and he would be in danger of being impaled upon his stake. |
† b. (See quot.) Obs.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 261/1 Terms of Art used by Brick-Makers... Staker, is him that puts the Clay off the Ground, upon the Board. |
c. Canad. One who stakes a (mining) claim.
| 1898 Yukon Midnight Sun (Dawson, Yukon Territory) 15 Aug. 1/3 He also said that until after September 1st no one but the original staker has any business upon these claims. 1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 13 Oct. 2/4 The original stakers are reported to be taking out $35 a day in coarse gold, some very large nuggets being found. 1954 North Star (Yellowknife, N.W. Territory) Aug. 2/1 Though a few stakers were ‘made’, it was generally the brokers and speculators who skimmed off the cream. |
▪ II. staker2
(ˈsteɪkə(r))
[f. stake v.3 + -er1.]
One who stakes or wagers money, etc.
| 1660 Hexham, Een wedder, A Wagerer, or a Staker. In mod. Dicts. 1975 J. Symons Three Pipe Problem vii. 45 Willie was a great staker of his reputation. 1976 Sunday Times (Lagos) 7 Nov. 21/3 (Advt.), Pools Magnet have won over ten million Naira for Stakers all over the world. |
▪ III. staker
see stacker n.2 and v.