customer

plural customers

1. obsoleteA habitual patron, regular purchaser, returning client; a person or company who has a custom of buying from a particular business.
2. A person or company who purchases or receives a product or service from a business or merchant or intends to do so.

   Every person who passes by is a potential customer.

   1 more example

   Airlines are the chief customers of the commercial divisions of large-aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.

   Synonyms: patron, client, solicitor

3. informalA person, especially one engaging in some sort of interaction with others.

   a cool customer, a tough customer, an ugly customer

   2 more examples

   Pug could just see Slote's pale face under his fur hat. "I don't agree with you on that. He's a pretty tough customer, Hopkins."

   1971, Herman Wouk, chapter 52, in The Winds of War

   This switch led to Philip Hammond becoming the Transport Secretary and he quickly proved to be a tricky customer, asking questions about rail spending and reining it back whenever possible.

   2020 January 2, Philip Haigh, “Ten eventful years and plenty of talking points”, in Rail, page 54

4. IndiahistoricalA native official who exacted customs duties.

   The Customer should come and visit them.

   1615, Sir T. Roe, Hak. Soc. i. 44

   2 more examples

   His houses […] are seized on by the Customer.

   1609, Danvers, Letters, i. 25; and comp. Foster, ibid. ii. 225

   The several affronts, insolences, and abuses dayly put upon us by Boolchund, our chief Customer

   1682, Hedges, Diary [Hak. Soc. i. 33]