A person hired to keep order at a nightclub or bar, often by removing disruptive people.
From the verb 'bounce,' which originally meant to hit or strike forcefully. In the late 19th century, it was applied to large men who would 'bounce' troublemakers out of establishments, and the term stuck.
Professional bouncers use psychology as much as physical size—they're trained in de-escalation techniques because a good bouncer prevents fights rather than starts them, making the job more about reading social situations than brute strength.
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