One who or that which is gaunt or thin; something characterized by leanness or spareness.
From 'gaunt' (meaning thin or lean) plus the agent suffix '-er,' which denotes someone or something that has a particular quality or performs a particular action.
The word 'gaunt' has a mysterious origin—it might come from Scandinavian languages, but linguists aren't certain. By adding '-er,' English speakers could nominalize the adjective to describe a person or thing embodying that quality!
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