a kitchen tool for removing skin or outer layers from fruits and vegetables, or historically, a police officer (particularly in Irish slang).
From 'peel' (to remove outer layer) plus '-er' (tool or agent). The police sense came from Sir Robert Peel, who established the London Metropolitan Police in 1829, and officers were nicknamed 'Peelers.'
The word 'peeler' has two completely separate origins: one from the cooking tool, one from a famous British politician. Sir Robert Peel's surname became so associated with policing that people still called Irish cops 'Peelers' long after. It's one of the few times a politician's name became a slang term for an entire profession.
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