Meanings
plural anglers
- An anglerfish, Lophius piscatorius.
The angler lured a smaller fish into reach with the appendage on its head.
- UKarchaicthieves' cantA thief who uses a hooked stick to steal goods out of shop-windows, grates, etc.
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.
c. 1608–1610, Samuel Rid, Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell1 more example
Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, / Irish Toyle, or other wanderer; / No dimber damber, angler, dancer, / Prig of cackler, prig of prancer
1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, volume 2, Oath of the Canting Crew, pages 339–340
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSomeone who tries to work an angle; a person who schemes or has an ulterior motive.
nounA thief who uses a hooked stick to steal goods out of shop-windows, grates, etc.
More synonyms by meaning
nounfishes having large mouths with a wormlike filament attached for luring prey
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishangler
- Englishangler
From Middle English angler, angleer, angeler, equivalent to angle + -er.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἰχθυοθηρευτής, ἰχθυοθηρητήρ
- ἰχθυοθηρευτής (ikhthuothēreutḗs)person who fishes with a hook and line
- ἰχθυοθηρητήρ (ikhthuothērētḗr)person who fishes with a hook and line
- ἀσπαλιευτής (aspalieutḗs)person who fishes with a hook and line
- ἰχθυουλκός (ikhthuoulkós)person who fishes with a hook and line
Bulgarian въдичар, морски дявол
- въдичар (vădičar)person who fishes with a hook and line
- морски дявол (morski djavol)angler fish
- джебчия (džebčija)petty thief
Catalan pescador esportiu, pescador de fons
- pescador esportiuperson who fishes with a hook and line
- pescador de fonsperson who fishes with a hook and line
- rapangler fish
Finnish onkija, uistelija
- onkijaperson who fishes with a hook and line
- uistelijaperson who fishes with a hook and line
- krottiangler fish
French pêcheur à la ligne
- pêcheur à la ligneperson who fishes with a hook and line
German Angler, Anglerin
- Anglerperson who fishes with a hook and line
- Anglerinperson who fishes with a hook and line
Greek ψαράς με καλάμι, πεσκανδρίτσα
- ψαράς με καλάμι (psarás me kalámi)person who fishes with a hook and line
- πεσκανδρίτσα (peskandrítsa)angler fish
Hungarian horgász
- horgászperson who fishes with a hook and line
Italian cannista, rana pescatrice
- cannistaperson who fishes with a hook and line
- rana pescatriceangler fish
Korean 낚시꾼
- 낚시꾼 (naksikkun)person who fishes with a hook and line
Māori kaihī
- kaihīperson who fishes with a hook and line
Norwegian breiflabb
- breiflabbangler fish
Polish wędkarz
- wędkarzperson who fishes with a hook and line
Portuguese pescador esportivo, tamboril
- pescador esportivoperson who fishes with a hook and line
- tamborilangler fish
- peixe-pescadorangler fish
Romanian pescar, pescăriță
- pescarperson who fishes with a hook and line
- pescărițăperson who fishes with a hook and line
- pescăreasăperson who fishes with a hook and line
Russian уди́льщик, рыба́к
- уди́льщик (udílʹščik)person who fishes with a hook and line
- рыба́к (rybák)person who fishes with a hook and line
- рыболо́в (rybolóv)person who fishes with a hook and line
- уди́льщик (udílʹščik)angler fish
- морско́й чёрт (morskój čort)angler fish
Spanish pescador, pescadora
- pescadorperson who fishes with a hook and line
- pescadoraperson who fishes with a hook and line
- rape comúnangler fish
- ulterioratorperson who schemes
- ulterioratrizperson who schemes
Turkish balıkçı, fener balığı
- balıkçıperson who fishes with a hook and line
- fener balığıangler fish
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with angler
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
angler. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angler
“angler.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angler. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “angler,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angler.
Source: angler on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.