Arrester

/əˈrɛstər/ noun

Definition

A person who arrests someone, or a device that stops or slows something down.

Etymology

From arrest plus -er suffix meaning 'one who does the action.' As a device, it follows technical naming conventions (like 'starter' in an engine). The word works for both human agents and mechanical ones.

Kelly Says

Lightning arresters are fascinating devices on buildings and power lines that safely channel electricity to the ground, preventing fires—basically giving electricity a safe 'arrest' path to follow.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.