A player positioned to defend the goal in sports, or someone who scores goals.
From 'goal' plus the agent suffix '-er.' The term can mean either one who guards goals or one who achieves them, depending on context.
The '-er' suffix is English's most productive way to create occupations and roles—'goaler' could have become the standard term instead of 'goalkeeper,' but language competition meant the longer, clearer term won out.
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