English Explanatory Dictionary

interloper

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One who interferes, intrudes or gets involved where not welcome, particularly a self-interested intruder.
  2. An unlicensed or illegitimate trader.

Pronunciation

/ˌɪntəˈləʊ̯pə/ /ˌɪntɚˈloʊ̯pɚ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-interloper.wav /ˌɪntəˈlæɔ̯pə/

Word forms

interloper interlopers

Etymology

From inter- + loper (“runner, rover”), as in landloper (“vagrant”) (from lope (“to leap, to jump”) (originally dialectal)). Originally spelt enterloper and used in specific sense, “unauthorized trader trespassing on privileges of chartered companies”, later general sense of “self-interested intruder” from 1630s.

Related words

interlope lope backseat driver busybody buttinsky encroacher gatecrasher kibitzer marplot meddler nosy parker peeping tom persona non grata
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