Puller

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpʊlɚ/

Definitions

1. A mechanism or person that exerts force to draw items inwards
2. An object used to draw, drag, or extract something by applying force ; an individual who exerts physical effort to move or draw things toward themselves
3. A mechanical aid for removing or pulling objects from a surface or position ; someone who tugs or hauls on something with strength

Etymology: "Puller" is a plain formation: the verb "pull" with the agent suffix "-er," which turns an action into the thing or person that performs it. The noun came into Middle English as "puller" or "pullere," and the suffix has been doing the same job in English for centuries, producing words like "driver," "singer," and "baker." The sense given here, a tool for extracting, is a specialised use of that general pattern. A puller is something that draws a object out of a fixed position, such as a bolt, a nail, or a gear from its shaft, and the name describes the tool by the action it performs rather than by its shape or material.

Synonyms: tugger, hauler