a suffix forming nouns that denote persons who regularly engage in an activity, or who are characterized in a certain way, as indicated by the stem; now usually pejorative: coward; dullard; drunkard; wizard.
Also, -art .
[ ME Adalhart (F Alard ), Bernhart (F Bernard ), with 2d element -hart lit., strong, hardy, HARD (c. OE -heard in names), often merely as intensifier of quality denoted in 1st element. ]