cropper

Etymology 1

See come a cropper.

noun

1. (normally confined to the expression come a cropper) A fall, a tumble; a decided failure.
   But to myself I thought: ‘Considering that for eight whole years I sat on the front bench as top of the class while he drifted about somewhere in the middle, he can hardly fail to nourish a wish, left over from his schooldays, that some day or other I may come a complete cropper.’ 1900, Sigmund Freud, “The Interpretation of Dreams”, in James Strachey, transl., Avon Books, page: 185

Etymology 2

crop + -er, in reference to a bird's crop.

noun

1. A breed of domestic pigeon with large crop.

Etymology 3

crop + -er (occupational suffix) or + -er (relational suffix), in reference to agricultural crops.

noun

1. A person who nurtures and gathers a crop.
2. A variety of plant producing a good harvest.
   The mango tree cannot be regarded as a reliable cropper. July 5, 1901, “Coast Fruit”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 9, page 284

Etymology 4

crop + -er, from the verb.

noun

1. A machine for cropping, as for shearing off bolts or rod iron, or for facing cloth.