Authorities investigated the scalper for alleged fraud and consumer deception.
Unlike a long-term investor, the scalper focused on minute price changes.
The theater posted signs warning patrons about scalpers.
Online forums warned about a new scalper selling fake tickets.
A mother tried to buy tickets from a scalper but was scammed.
Similar words
shark
knife
price gouger
blade
dissector
short-term trader
ticket seller
scalpel
warrior
rip-off seller
Meanings
Surgical instrument
noun
medical
neutral
A small knife or tool used by surgeons to cut or remove tissue, especially the scalp.
Examples
The surgeon preferred a scalper for the fine skin incision.
During the operation, the nurse handed the scalper to the doctor.
A sterile scalper is essential for preventing infection.
The veterinary clinic kept a small scalper for delicate animal surgeries.
After the first cut, the scalper was set aside for cleaning.
The medical student practiced using a scalper on a practice pad.
When the tissue was tough, the surgeon switched to a larger scalper.
Similar words
scalpel
knife
blade
cautery
surgical knife
microknife
dissector
Scalp remover
noun
historical
neutral
A person who cuts off the scalp of an enemy, historically as a trophy of war.
Examples
In the 17th century, a scalper would take the enemy's scalp as a war trophy.
The native scalper returned to his village with a fresh scalp.
Colonial records describe a scalper who targeted frontier settlements.
The legend speaks of a fearsome scalper who roamed the hills.
European explorers feared the scalper who could appear without warning.
A captured scalper was displayed as a warning to other tribes.
The tribe honored its scalper with a ceremonial feast.
Similar words
headhunter
trophy hunter
warrior
raider
scalp taker
tribal hunter
bloodthirsty raider
Ticket reseller
noun
commerce
neutral
A person who buys tickets and sells them outside the venue at a price higher than the face value.
Examples
At the stadium entrance, a scalper was shouting the price of the tickets.
Fans complained about the scalper who marked up the tickets by fifty percent.
Police arrested a scalper after a tip about illegal resale.
The city passed a law to curb scalpers near concert halls.
Online forums warned about a new scalper selling fake tickets.
A mother tried to buy tickets from a scalper but was scammed.
The theater posted signs warning patrons about scalpers.
Similar words
ticket tout
ticket broker
ticket dealer
ticket seller
ticket vendor
ticket hawker
ticket flipper
Financial trader
noun
finance
neutral
A trader who repeatedly makes many short-term trades to profit from tiny price movements in markets.
Examples
The scalper opened ten positions within a single hour to capture tiny price moves.
Using a fast computer, the scalper placed orders the moment the spread narrowed.
Regulators warned that aggressive scalpers could destabilize the market.
A novice scalper lost money after over-trading on volatile stocks.
The firm hired a scalper to provide liquidity during thin trading periods.
Unlike a long-term investor, the scalper focused on minute price changes.
The scalper relied on an algorithm that executed trades in milliseconds.
Similar words
day trader
high-frequency trader
market maker
quick trader
short-term trader
speculator
momentum trader
Cheating reseller
noun
social
slang
A person who buys goods cheaply and resells them at inflated prices, often viewed as a con artist.
Examples
Many online shoppers avoid the scalper who inflates prices on limited-edition sneakers.
The community labeled the scalper as a cheat who preys on desperate fans.
A review warned that the scalper was selling counterfeit goods at premium rates.
Friends warned each other not to buy from the scalper who always overcharges.
The scalper bragged about making a fortune by exploiting ticket scarcity.
Authorities investigated the scalper for alleged fraud and consumer deception.
Even though the scalper offered fast delivery, buyers felt ripped off by the high price.
Similar words
con artist
price gouger
shark
hustler
cheater
swindler
rip-off seller
Etymology
From the verb scalp ‘to cut off the scalp’ plus the agent suffix -er. First recorded in the 1650s as a surgical instrument and by 1760 as ‘one who takes or removes scalps’; the later sense of a ticket or goods reseller developed thereafter.
FAQ
What does scalper mean?
It is a person who tries to profit by repeatedly buying and quickly reselling items or securities for small gains.
What does scalper mean in surgery?
In medicine it refers to a small knife or tool used by surgeons to cut or remove tissue, especially the scalp.
What does scalper mean in historical warfare?
Historically it describes a person who cuts off an enemy’s scalp as a war trophy.
What does scalper mean in ticket sales?
In the ticket market it is someone who buys tickets and sells them outside the venue at a price above face value.
What does scalper mean in finance?
In finance it denotes a trader who makes many short-term trades to profit from tiny price movements.
What does scalper mean as slang?
As slang it is a con-artist who buys goods cheaply and resells them at inflated prices.
What is the plural form of scalper?
The plural is scalpers.
Where does the word scalper come from?
It comes from the verb scalp plus the agent suffix -er, first recorded in the 1650s.
How is scalper different from scalpel?
A scalper is a tool for cutting tissue, while a scalpel is a general term for a surgical knife; the former is a specific type of the latter.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.