piker

English

Noun

piker (plural pikers)

1. someone who bets or gambles only with small amounts of money
2. a stingy person; a cheapskate
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 604:

     Whatever else this cupcake might be up to, she was no piker. For everything the Q's ordered, she added on more of the same

3. an amateur
4. (Australian, slang) someone who backs out of a promise, refuses to go out with friends, or leaves a party early

   Mate, don't be a piker! Come to Angie's birthday party tonight!

Usage notes

It has been linked etymologically to the word pikey as well as to Pike County in eastern Missouri [1]. In the latter instance the term originally denoted poor immigrants to California.

Quotations

The 2000 film Boiler Room makes reference to "pikers" in the following excerpt:

So now you know what's possible, let me tell you what's required. You are required to work your fucking ass off at this firm. We want winners here, not pikers. A piker walks at the bell. A piker asks how much vacation time you get in the first year. Vacation time? People come to work at this firm for one reason: to become filthy rich; that's it. We're not here to make friends; we're not saving the fucking manatees here, guys. You want vacation time, go teach third grade at a public school. (wav, mp3)

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Norwegian

Noun

piker

1. Indefinite plural of pike