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reefer

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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    From reef + -er.

    Noun

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    reefer (plural reefers)

    1. (nautical) Someone who reefs sails, especially a midshipman.
      • 1922, Katherine Mansfield, “Prelude”, in Selected Stories, Oxford, published 2002, page 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.
      • 1905, John Masefield, Sea Life in Nelson's Times, page 27:
        The mess table, at which the reefers and mates made merry, was fixed in the middle of the berth.
    2. A reefer jacket; a close-fitting jacket or short coat of thick cloth.
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    Etymology 2

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    Clipping of refrigerator.

    Noun

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    reefer (plural reefers)

    2. (colloquial, chiefly US) A refrigerated, insulated trailer, ship or shipping container.
      • 1975, “Convoy”, in C.W. McCall, Chip Davis (lyrics), Black Bear Road, performed by C. W. McCall:
        Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June
        In a Kenworth pullin' logs.
        Cab-over Pete with a reefer on
        And a Jimmy haulin' hogs.
      • 1988, Jane Stern, Michael Stern, A taste of America, →ISBN, page 41:
        Next to the cash register, a bulletin board was thumbtacked with notes from deadheaders who needed loads heading west, and shippers looking for a reefer (refrigerated truck) going down to Florida.
    4. (rail transport, US) a refrigerator car (type of boxcar).
      Hypernyms: box car, freight car
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    Etymology 3

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    Uncertain. Perhaps from Mexican Spanish grifa (“cannabis”)/Central American Spanish grifo (“someone who smokes cannabis”), or from the rolled-up appearance of a marijuana cigarette resembling a reefed sail. First attested in the 1920s.

    Noun

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    reefer (countable and uncountable, plural reefers) (slang, chiefly dated)

    1. (countable) A marijuana cigarette.
      • 1954, Ian Fleming, “Table Z”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 54:
        'Most of the real hep-cats smoke reefers,' explained Leiter. 'Wouldn't be allowed most places.'
    2. (uncountable) Marijuana.
      • 1982, Edward G. Fletcher, Melle Mel, “The Message”, in The Message, performed by Grandmaster Flash:
        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.
      • 1984 April 7, N.B., “Chemical Dependency in the Gay Community”, in Gay Community News, page 5:
        As time went on and I smoked more reefer, I began to spend more time with other dope smokers, reminiscing on how good the sixties were, rather than actually participating in the current political movements.
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    Etymology 4

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    From reef +‎ -er.

    1. A miner that works on a reef (large vein of auriferous quartz).

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