buster

buster · noun¹

Originally a dialectal variant of burster; later influenced by bust + -er. The combining form of the term has appeared from the early 20th century but been especially prolific during three periods: in the 1930s, owing to the success of the radio series Gang Busters; in the 1940s, owing to its appearance as military slang; and in the 1980s, owing to the success of the movie Ghostbusters.

Buster · proper noun²

1. Latin · derived fromapostema“boil”
2. German · derived fromBuste“pockmark, boil”
3. English todayBuster

From Austrian German Buste (“pockmark, boil”), from Latin apostema (“boil”), + -er.

Buster · proper noun³

From buster.

Words from the same roots