gaffer

gaffer
n
a.
a boss. A rustic term of address or descriptive word for an old man or master current in Britain since the 16th century, gaffer is a contraction of 'grandfather'. It is still widely used, particularly by working-class speakers.
If I were you I'd go and fetch the gaffer; he's the only one who knows what's going on.
b.
an old man. This is probably the most common sense of the word in the USA, where it is also used to refer to a father (but rarely specifically a grandfather), and to a foreman as in the first sense.
c.
British
a police officer. The term was recorded among London criminals in 1993.

Contemporary slang . 2014.

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Synonyms:

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  • Gaffer — or Gaffa may refer to: * Gaffer (boss), a British colloquial term for boss or old man * Gaffer (motion picture industry), the head of the electrical department * Gaffer tape, a type of adhesive tape * Gaffer, character in the Muppets * Gaffa… …   Wikipedia

  • Gaffer — Gaf fer (g[a^]f f[ e]r), n. [Possibly contr. fr. godfather; but prob. fr. gramfer for grandfather. Cf. {Gammer}.] 1. An old fellow; an aged rustic. [1913 Webster] Go to each gaffer and each goody. Fawkes. [1913 Webster] Note: Gaffer was… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • GAFFER — (Goals And Footballs For East Africa Region) is a grassroots soccer organisation which aims to provide good quality community owned sporting infrastructure (equipment and training) to schools and villages in rural areas of East Africa. External… …   Wikipedia

  • Gaffer — bezeichnet: umgangssprachlich einen Schaulustigen, siehe auch Katastrophentourismus beim Film einen Oberbeleuchter eine Art Klebeband Siehe auch:  Wiktionary: Gaffer – Bedeutungserklärungen, Wortherkunft, Synonyme, Übersetzungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gaffer — (n.) 1580s, elderly rustic, apparently a contraction of godfather (Cf. GAMMER (Cf. gammer)); originally old man, it was applied from 1841 to foremen and supervisors, which sense carried over 20c. to electrician in charge of lighting on a film set …   Etymology dictionary

  • gaffer — ► NOUN Brit. 1) informal an old man. 2) informal a boss. 3) the chief electrician in a film or television production unit. ORIGIN probably a contraction of GODFATHER(Cf. ↑godfather) …   English terms dictionary

  • gaffer — [gaf′ər] n. [altered < GODFATHER] 1. an old man, esp. one from the country: now usually humorous: cf. GAMMER 2. a master glass blower ☆ 3. chief electrician in charge of lighting on a TV or film set 4. Brit. a foreman of a group of workers …   English World dictionary

  • gaffer — 1. gaffer [ gafe ] v. tr. <conjug. : 1> • 1694; de 1. gaffe ♦ Pêche Accrocher avec une gaffe. Gaffer un poisson. gaffer 2. gaffer [ gafe ] v. intr. <conjug. : 1> • 1883; de 2. gaffe ♦ Faire une gaffe, un impair (cf. Mettre les pieds… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gaffer —    In modern times a British worker might say: ‘You’d better see the gaffer about that’, meaning that it is necessary to consult the boss. He might also, in a public house, ask where the gaffer is tonight, referring to the landlord. Such… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • Gaffer — Pour une définition du mot « gaffer », voir l’article gaffer du Wiktionnaire. Gaffer (Gaffa) ruban adhésif Le gaffer e …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gaffer — ↑ Gafferin Beobachter, Beobachterin, Betrachter, Betrachterin, Neugieriger, Neugierige, Passant, Passantin, Umstehende, Zaungast, Zuschauer, Zuschauerin; (häufig abwertend): Schaulustige; (veraltet abwertend): Maulaffe. * * *… …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

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