liar
n.-
1 someone who tells lies (n.) A2 Elementarya person who says things that they know are not true.
a person who intentionally utters falsehoods or deceptions.
ExampleI don't believe anything he says because he is a known liar.
ExampleThe witness was exposed as a liar when the prosecution presented video evidence that directly contradicted his earlier testimony.
- deceiver
- fabricator
- storyteller
- truth teller
PitfallHe is a lie.He is a liar.Use 'lie' for the false statement itself, but use 'liar' for the person who says it.
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2 ship cleaner (n.) C2 Proficiency Archaic Sciencea person on a ship whose job was to clean the outside parts of the boat.
a swabber responsible for cleaning the exterior parts of a ship, a role historically assigned as punishment to those caught lying.
ExampleIn the old days, a sailor caught in a lie might be forced to work as the ship's liar.
ExampleThe captain appointed the deckhand as the week's liar, tasking him with the arduous cleaning of the hull as penance for his deceit.
UsageThis term is found in historical maritime contexts and is no longer used in modern sailing.
- swabber
Inherited from Middle English lier, liere, lyere, liȝer, lieȝer, legher, from Old English lēgere, lēogere (“liar, false witness, hypocrite”), from Proto-West Germanic leugārī, from Proto-Germanic leugārijaz (“liar”), from leuganą (“to lie”) + -ārijaz, equivalent to lie + -ar. More at lie.