Meaning

noun the contestant who wins the contest

noun a gambler who wins a bet

noun a person with a record of successes

originInherited from Middle English wynner, wynnere, equivalent to win + -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Winner (“winner”), West Frisian winner (“winner”), Dutch winner and winnaar (“winner”), German Low German Winner, Gewinner (“winner”), German Gewinner (“winner”), Danish vinder (“winner”), Swedish vinnare (“winner”), Norwegian vinner (“winner”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0