Ringer

/ˈrɪŋər/ noun

Definition

Someone or something that closely resembles another person or thing, or in sports, a player brought in illegally to participate; something that rings.

Etymology

From 'ring' plus the agent suffix '-er.' The slang meaning evolved in 19th-century sports when someone who looked like an authorized player would illegally compete.

Kelly Says

The term 'dead ringer' became so popular that people often use it without knowing it literally means someone identical enough to fool you!

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