Shirker
/ˈʃɜːrkər/noun
A person who avoids work, duty, or responsibility.
Did you know?The base verb *shirk* first appears in English in the 17th century with the sense “to evade or slink away,” and its origin is uncertain, which makes it one of those words that feels like it was born in the shadows.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
shirk
“To evade, avoid, or slink away from a task or duty.”
17th Century
English
shirker
“One who shirks; an evader of work or responsibility.”
17th–18th Century
English
shirk
“To evade or escape by trickery or by slipping away.”
Modern English
English
shirker
“A person who avoids work, duty, or responsibility.”