angler

Etymology

angle +‎ -er

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæŋ.ɡlə(ɹ)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈæŋ.ɡlɚ/

Noun

angler (plural anglers)

1. A person who fishes with a hook and line.

   A throng of anglers lined the trout stream on opening day of trout season.

2. An angler fish, Lophius piscatorius.

   The angler lured a smaller fish into reach with the appendage on its head.

3. Someone who tries to work an angle; a person who schemes or has an ulterior motive.

   Jonas was a consummate angler when it came the company's leave policy; he had it figured so he only needed to work six months out of the year.

4. (archaic, Britain, thieves' cant) A thief who uses a hooked stick to steal goods out of shop-windows, grates, etc.
   • c. 1608–1610, Rid, Samuel, Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell:

     They are sure to be clyd in the night by the angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers that liue upon the spoyle of other poore people.

   • 1834, Ainsworth, William Harrison, Rookwood‎, volume 2, Oath of the Canting Crew, page 339–340:

     Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, / Irish Toyle, or other wanderer; / No dimber damber, angler, dancer, / Prig of cackler, prig of prancer

References

• angler in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• 1811 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue, available from Project Gutenberg
• “angler” in Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors, A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant, volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: The Ballantyne Press, 1889–1890, page 39.
• Farmer, John Stephen (1890) Slang and Its Analogues‎, volume 1, pages 54–55

Anagrams

• Langer, Nagler, Nergal, Rangel, erlang, gen'ral, langer, largen, rangle, regnal

Verb

angler

1. To angle