Refers to someone who is easily influenced by superstitions or omens, often in a light or teasing way.
practical joker; prankster
Someone who enjoys playing tricks or teasing others; the nuance comes from 担ぐ meaning 'to trick' or 'to pull someone's leg'.
peddler; itinerant salesman; black-market peddler
Historically refers to a street vendor carrying goods on a pole over the shoulder. The black-market sense is specifically post-WWII.
He's a superstitious person who believes in omens, and draws a fortune slip every morning.
That prankster spread fake news again and surprised everyone.
In the chaotic post-war period, black-market peddlers went around selling goods in the black markets.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; common in informal writing.
From 担ぐ (かつぐ, 'to carry on one's shoulder' or 'to trick') + 屋 (や, 'person' or 'shop'). The peddler sense comes from carrying goods on a pole over the shoulder; the superstitious and joker senses come from the 'trick' meaning of 担ぐ.