Pronunciation: [ʃˈe͡ɪkə] (IPA) 
The word "shaker" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /ˈʃeɪkər/ in English. The first syllable is "shay" (IPA: /ʃeɪ/), which has the "sh" sound followed by a long "a" sound. The second syllable is "ker" (IPA: /kər/), which has a short "e" sound followed by the "k" and "r" sounds. This spelling of "shaker" accurately reflects the pronunciation of the word in English and is an important tool for learners of the language.
Shaker, noun:
1. A container or vessel with a lid and often a perforated top, designed to hold and dispense powdered substances or small particles through shaking or pouring. Shakers are commonly used for dispensing salt, pepper, sugar, spices, or condiments in a controlled manner, thus ensuring a specific quantity or even distribution of the substance.
2. A member or adherent of the Shakers, a religious sect established in the 18th century, characterized by their communal way of life, celibacy, and emphasis on celibacy, pacifism, simplicity, and spiritual practices. Shakers are known for their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in furniture making.
3. Slang: A person engaged in shaking down or extorting money, often through illegal means, such as blackmail, bribery, threats, or coercion. This usage is commonly associated with criminal activities or individuals involved in organized crime.
4. A device or mechanism that agitates or oscillates, typically used for blending, mixing, or stirring substances together. Examples include cocktail shakers, paint shakers, protein shakers, or fitness shakers used to mix powdered substances with liquid for consumption.
5. In music, a shaker refers to a percussion instrument that produces a gentle, rattling sound when shaken or waved back and forth, usually consisting of a hollow container filled with beads, seeds, or small pellets. Shakers are often used in various genres of music, including jazz, folk, Latin, and world music, to add rhythmic complexity and texture to the composition.
Overall, "shaker" refers to a wide range of objects, persons, and concepts, relating to containers, religious groups, slang terms, devices, and musical instruments.
One who shakes.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "shaker" has multiple etymologies depending on its context:
1. As a noun referring to someone or something that shakes:
- Old English: The word "sceacan" means "to shake" in Old English, which is the root of "shaker".
2. As a noun referring to a member of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (commonly known as Shakers):
- The religious sect known as the Shakers was founded in the 18th century. The name "Shakers" was given to them to mock their ecstatic movements during worship services. The term may have originated from the verb "shake", implying their religious fervor.
