A person or machine that digs or maintains ditches; also, something that causes failure or abandonment of a plan.
From 'ditch' (to abandon or dig a channel) plus the agent suffix '-er,' creating a word meaning either one who digs ditches or one who 'ditches' (abandons) something.
In World War II, soldiers called mechanical ditchers 'lifesavers' because they could dig defensive trenches much faster than soldiers with shovels—speed could mean the difference between victory and defeat!
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