Etymologically
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killer

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:26. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈkɪl.ə/, US /ˈkɪl.ɚ/[1]

Etymology

It is an agent noun formed from English kill + -er.[2][3] A surname, Ric[hard] Le Kyller, is recorded from 1288.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who or that which kills: late 15th century in Etymonline, 1535 in the OED.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Figurative uses are from the 1550s.[2][4] As the name of the orca it is from 1725, with killer whale from 1854.[2][4] An effective angler's bait is from 1681, and a club for killing fish from 1890.[4] An animal raised for slaughter is from 1897, chiefly Australian and New Zealand.[4][5] An impressive or excellent person or thing is by 1900,[2][4] and the adjective “impressive” is from 1951 in MWU, 1979 in Etymonline.[3][2] Killer instinct is from 1931, at first in boxing.[2]

Timeline

  • 1288 – the surname Le Kyller.[2]
  • 1535 – one who kills.[4]
  • 1725 – the orca.[2][4]
  • 1854 – killer whale.[2]
  • 1900 – an impressive person or thing.[2][4]
  • 1931 – killer instinct.[2]
  • 1951 – adjective, impressive.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person, animal or thing that kills, especially a murderer.
  2. (informal) Something very hard to deal with.
  3. (informal) A formidable person or thing.

Adjective

  1. Causing death or destruction: killer floods.
  2. (slang) Very impressive or effective: a killer smile.

Word family

  • hunter-killer
  • painkiller
  • self-killer
  • lady-killer
  • category killer
  • cicada killer
  • cow killer
  • killer app
  • kill

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)