A person who enjoys or performs heavy metal or hard rock music, often characterized by vigorous head-shaking movements; sometimes used playfully or dismissively.
From 'headband' or 'head-banging' (the vigorous movement of shaking one's head to music rhythm, popularized in 1970s rock culture) plus the agent suffix '-er' meaning 'one who does'.
The term 'headbanger' emerged directly from the physical behavior—musicians and fans literally banging their heads to rock music created a whole subculture identity!
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