There is a common type of compound noun in Spanish which describes a person or a device that does something. Like a can opener, a corkscrew or a gamekeeper. These are known as exocentric verb-noun compounds. In Spanish such words are formed from the 3rd person singular of a verb and the plural of a noun. The resulting combination is always masculine singular, despite the fact that most of these words end in “s”. In this post don Pablo lists some of the more common and more interesting ones.
People
un aguafiestas – party pooper
un chupatintas - penpusher
un comecocos – brain teaser; un comefuegos – fireater;
un comehostias – goody goody (lit: a communion wafer eater)
un cortabolsas – pickpocket
un guardabosques – gamekeeper; un guardacostas –coastguard;
un guardaespaldas – bodyguard; un guardameta – goalkeeper
un lavacaras – toady, creep (lit: face washer = a**e licker)
un limpiabotas – bootblack, shoeshine boy; un limpiachimeneas – chimney sweep; un limpiacristales –window cleaner; un limpiacoches – street car washer;
Household items
un abrebotellas – bottle opener; un abrelatas – tin opener;
un abrecartas – letter opener
un cortahuevos – egg slicer, un cortahumedades – dampproof course;
un cortapapeles – paper cutter; un cortaalambres – wire cutters;
un cortacircuitos/cortacorrientes – circuit breaker;
un cortapapeles – paper cutter, guillotine; un cortapuros – cigar cutter;
un cortaúñas – nail clippers; un cortavidrios – glass cutter;
un lavamanos – handbasin; un lavapiés – footbath; un lavaplatos – dishwasher;
un lavavajillas – washing-up liquid;
un limpiacristales – window-cleaning fluid; un limpiadientes – toothpick;
un limpiahornos – oven cleaner; un limpiamuebles – furniture cleaner
un matamoscas – fly swat
un posavasos – coaster; beer mat
un sacacorchos - corkscrew
un quitaesmaltes – nail varnish remover; un quitamanchas – stain remover
un quitamiedos - handrail
un sacapuntas – pencil sharpener
Transport
un guardacostas – coastguard vessel
un lavacoches – car wash; un lavaparabrisas – windscreen washer fluid
un parabrisas – windscreen; un parachoques - bumper
un portaaviones – aircraft carrier;
un portamaletas, un portaequipajes – car boot; roof rack
un quitanieves – snow plough
Outside activities and equipment
un cortafuegos – firebreak; un cortavientos – windbreak
un espantapájaros - scarecrow
un paracaídas – parachute; un paraguas – umbrella;
un pararrayos – lightning conductor
Natural world
un chupasangres – blood sucker
Miscellaneous
un matasellos – postmark
un pasamontanas – balaclava
A handful that don’t end in “s”
un cortacésped – lawn mower
un parasol – parasol
un pasaporte – passport; un pasatiempo - pastime
un quitapintura – paint remover; un quitasol - sunshade;
un quitasueño – worry, problem (lit: sleep depriver)
If you know any more of these exocentric verb-noun compounds, please add them to the comment section at the end of this article.