GAFFER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gaffer mean? 

• GAFFER (noun)
  The noun GAFFER has 3 senses:

1. an elderly man

2. an electrician responsible for lighting on a movie or tv set

3. a person who exercises control over workers

  Familiarity information: GAFFER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GAFFER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An elderly man

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

antique; gaffer; old-timer; old geezer; oldtimer

Hypernyms ("gaffer" is a kind of...):

graybeard; greybeard; Methuselah; old man (a man who is very old)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An electrician responsible for lighting on a movie or tv set

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("gaffer" is a kind of...):

electrician; lineman; linesman (a person who installs or repairs electrical or telephone lines)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A person who exercises control over workers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

boss; chief; foreman; gaffer; honcho

Context example:

if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman

Hypernyms ("gaffer" is a kind of...):

supervisor (one who supervises or has charge and direction of)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gaffer"):

baas (South African term for 'boss')

ganger (the foreman of a work gang)

assistant foreman; straw boss (a member of a work gang who supervises the other workers)

 Context examples 

“If your cask is leer, I warrant your purse is full, gaffer,” shouted Hordle John.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)