reefer

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɹiːfə/
• Rhymes: -iːfə(r)

Etymology 1

From reef +‎ -er.

Noun

reefer (plural reefers)

1. (nautical) Someone who reefs sails, especially a midshipman.
   • 1922, Katherine Mansfield, ‘Prelude’, Oxford 2002 (Selected Stories), p. 85:

     Her reefer cap was all on one side and on her cheek there was the print of an anchor button she had pressed on while sleeping.

2. A reefer jacket; a close-fitting jacket or short coat of thick cloth.

Derived terms

• reefer jacket

Etymology 2

Shortened form of refrigerator.

Noun

reefer (plural reefers)

1. (colloquial, chiefly US) A refrigerated, insulated trailer or shipping container.

Etymology 3

Origin uncertain. Perhaps compare regional Spanish grifa (“cannabis”) (Mexico), grifo (“someone who smokes cannabis”) (Central America).

Noun

reefer (plural reefers)

1. (slang) A marijuana cigarette.
2. (slang, uncountable) marijuana.
   • 1982, Grandmaster Flash, "The Message":

     Daddy I don't want to go to school because the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool and all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper if I just got a job learned to be a street sweeper.

Synonyms

• (marijuana cigarette): See also Wikisaurus:marijuana cigarette

Translations

marijuana cigarette

• Czech: špek (cs) m, joint (cs) m
• Finnish: jointti (fi)
• German: Joint (de) m, Tüte (de) f

• Spanish: bate (es) m (Honduras), canuto (es) m, carruco (es) m (Honduras), leño (es) m (Honduras), porro (es) m