"one who manipulates" in any sense, 1804, agent noun from manipulate, perhaps on model of French manipulateur (1783). Related: Manipulatory.
Entries linking to manipulator
manipulate v.
1827, "to handle skillfully by hand," a back-formation from manipulation. As "to manage by mental influence," especially for one's own purposes, is by 1864. Financial sense is from 1870. By 1949 it served as a euphemism for "masturbate." Related: Manipulated; manipulating.