A psychiatrist or psychologist, especially one who treats patients; originally a slang or informal term.
Compound of 'head' and 'shrinker' (from 'shrink,' slang for psychiatrist). The term emerged in early 20th-century American slang, playing on the idea of a doctor who deals with mental problems by 'shrinking' or reducing them.
This playful slang term reveals how language creates new words through metaphor—'shrink' originally meant to reduce something in size, and patients humorously applied it to psychiatrists who help reduce psychological problems. The term shows how informal, creative language often comes from everyday people rather than official dictionaries.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.