A peeler is a metal blade attached to a wooden, metal or plastic handle that is used to remove the outer skin or peel thus peeling certain vegetables, frequently potatoes, and fruits such as apples, pears, etc.
The most common type of peeler is called “Y-peeler” (due to its shape): the blade is perpendicular to the handle and it is used with a similar action to a razor, shaving off skin in strips parallel to the handle. Most peelers also have an 'eye gouger' beside the blade, a loop of metal used to dig out eyes and blemishes from the potato.
For safety reasons, when being used to peel an item held in the hands, a peeler must also never be 'pushed', but always drawn such that the blade follows the handle, otherwise the peeler may slip if the blade catches. In all cases, the fingers holding the peeler should be kept as far back from the blade as possible.