handshaker

English

Alternative forms

• hand-shaker, hand shaker

Etymology

hand +‎ shaker

Noun

handshaker (plural handshakers)

1. One who gives a handshake.
   • 1960, James Boyer May, Trace - Issues 35-43, page 27:

     A potentially great statesman is not likely to be by natural inclination an enthusiastic, grinning, and indefatigable handshaker, babykisser and small-talkie walkie; yet, no one who is not an enthusiastic, grinning, and indefatigable handshaker, babykisser and small-talkie walkie can become a great statesman, if it is up to the man in the street, the man on the road, the man on the dirt road, and the man in the blind alley — the electorate, in short.

   • 1973, James Joseph Thompson, Beyond words, page 145:

     Rough handshaker — He wants to appear tough and outgoing. He may be trying to hide his own feelings of insecurity.

2. (slang, US) A deceitful person, a swindler.

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2024) “handshaker n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang