A person who works energetically and persistently to achieve their goals, often in business or competitive situations. Can also refer to someone who engages in questionable or illegal schemes to make money.
From Dutch 'hutselen' meaning 'to shake, to toss', related to energetic movement. The American slang sense of 'energetic worker' emerged in the 19th century, with the negative connotation developing alongside.
The word 'hustler' perfectly captures American entrepreneurial spirit - it can be either admiringly applied to a determined businessperson or critically used for someone cutting corners. This duality reflects complex attitudes toward aggressive ambition in competitive societies!
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