Pusher
/ˈpʊʃər/noun
A person or thing that pushes, or someone who aggressively promotes or sells something.
Did you know?‘Pusher’ is a straightforward English agent noun from the verb *push*, but its modern slang use for a drug dealer gave it a much darker social charge in the 20th century.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
pussen
“To thrust or shove forward; to drive or propel.”
Late Middle English
English
pushen
“A later form of the same verb, still meaning to thrust or shove.”
16th Century
English
push
“To thrust, shove, or strike against with force.”
17th Century
English
pusher
“One who pushes; an agent noun formed from the verb.”
20th Century
English
pusher
“A person who sells or distributes drugs, especially illicitly.”