caller

[kaw-ler]

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noun

a person or thing that calls.
a person who makes a short visit.
Dance. a person who directs the movements of dancers, as at a hoedown or square dance, by calling out the successive figures as the music plays.

Origin of caller

1400–50; late Middle English. See call, -er¹

Synonyms for caller

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2. See visitor.

caller

[kal-er, kah-ler]

adjective Scot. and North England.

(of fruit, fish, vegetables, etc.) fresh; recently picked or caught.
refreshing.

Origin of caller

1325–75; Middle English, north. variant of calver fresh, alive (said of fish) < ?

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for caller

guest, visitant

Examples from the Web for caller

Contemporary Examples of caller

Should the caller have the temerity to ask where they were, the phone call would be quietly ended.
The Bookstore That Bewitched Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Greta Garbo
Felice Picano
December 16, 2014
Caller: “He has a gray, gray coat with black sleeves and gray pants on.”
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim
Michael Daly
December 2, 2014
So what piece could have so passionately enraged this caller that I was marked for death?
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat
Annie Gaus
December 1, 2014
The caller mentioned my work, which focused primarily on consumer products, mobile apps, emerging start-ups, and web trends.
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat
Annie Gaus
December 1, 2014
A new short, titled “Caller Unknown,” is set to be released later this week and promises to be haunting.
Artist Gives Celebs the ‘Natural’ Look
Justin Jones
July 24, 2014

Historical Examples of caller

To Eileen's credit it may be said that she had not been told that a caller was expected.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
He did not look up, but, as his caller moved, inquired amiably: "Well?"
The Fortune Hunter
Louis Joseph Vance
Somehow the fellow did suggest Kirkwood's caller of the afternoon.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
The caller had gone away, and the old woman and the girl were left alone.
Four Girls and a Compact
Annie Hamilton Donnell
"Mr. Kendrick ain't here," she said, in answer to the caller's question.
Thankful's Inheritance
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for caller

caller

noun

a person or thing that calls, esp a person who makes a brief visit
Australian a racing commentator

caller

adjective Scot

(of food, esp fish) fresh
coola caller breeze

Word Origin for caller

C14: perhaps a Scottish variant of calver to prepare fresh salmon or trout in a certain way; perhaps from Old English calwer curds, from a fancied resemblance with the flaked flesh of the fish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for caller

c.1500, "one who proclaims," agent noun from call (v.). Meaning "one who announces step changes at a dance" is recorded from 1882; "one who places a telephone call," 1898. Meaning "a social visitor" is attested from 1786.