Cheater
/ˈtʃiːtər/noun
A person who acts dishonestly or breaks rules to gain an advantage.
Did you know?In medieval English, a “cheater” was originally an official called the escheator, who investigated property that had reverted to the king, and the modern insult grew out of accusations of corruption around that office.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
OF
eschete
“property that reverts to a lord or the crown”
Middle English
ME
chete
“to escheat; to forfeit to the crown”
14th Century
English
chete / cheater
“an officer dealing with escheats; a corrupt official”
16th Century
English
cheater
“a swindler or dishonest person”
Modern English
English
cheater
“a person who deceives or breaks rules for advantage”