Tagger

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈtæɡə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A person who places distinctive identifiers or labels on various items
2. an individual responsible for designating and organizing objects through the application of names or tags
3. Someone who attaches labels or tags to items for identification or classification

Etymology: The word "tagger" is a plain formation: the noun "tag" with the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who does the tagging. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, passing from Latin "-arius" through Old French "-ier" into Middle English "-er," and it is the same ending found in "baker," "writer," and countless other agent nouns. The noun "tag" is the more mysterious half. It first appears in English in the 1500s as a word for a pointed metal tip on a lace or cord, and from there it spread to any small attached label or ornament. The idea of a person who attaches such labels is therefore a direct extension of that original sense of fastening something on. The word has also been brought into the modern computing world, where a "tagger" can be a program that assigns labels, such as parts of speech, to pieces of text. The core meaning remains the same: attaching a distinguishing mark to something so it can be recognized later.

Synonyms: labeler, marker