passer
nounUK /ˈpɑːsə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈpæsəɹ/
Etymology From pass + -er.
7 senses
1
One who succeeds in passing a test, etc.
- The distributions of scores on the exam for passers and failers are plotted […]2008, David L. Streiner, Geoffrey R. Norman, Health Measurement Scales:
2
One who passes something along; a distributor.
- a passer of counterfeit banknotes
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Someone who passes, someone who makes a pass.
- A superb passer of the ball, we expected him to wipe the floor with the opposition.1991, Rex Mossop, The Moose That Roared, Sydney: Ironbark Press, page 157:
4
American football, Ball games, Football, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A football player who makes a forward pass, who may be (but not limited to) the quarterback.
5
Board games, Chess, Games Informal A passed pawn.
6
Archaic One who passes; a passer-by.
- There was a promise of it in the gorgeous purity of the western sky; there was an intimation in the mild, unimpertinent gaze of the passers of a certain natural facility in things.1878, Henry James, The Europeans:
- Passers stopped and began to stare. A policeman was approaching up the street. Dave dodged back into the cab and banged the door.1904, National Magazine, volume 20, page 147:
7
Human sciences, Sciences, Social science, Sociology One who is able to "pass", or be accepted as a member of a race, sex or other group to which society would not otherwise regard them as belonging.
- Explores the history, literature, and sociology of passing, and provides case studies of six individuals who are "passers," including a black man who passed as a white Jew and a lesbian naval officer who passed as straight.2003, Brooke Kroeger, Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are:
- Passers and would-be passers make every effort to be convincing in their chosen gender role […]2014, Risa Bear, Homecomings, page 69:
- Related terms
- buck-passer, flat passer, gas passer, laissez-passer, passer-by, passer-through