Gaf"fer (?), n. [Possibly contr. fr. godfather; but prob. fr. gramfer for grandfather. Cf. Gammer.]

1.

An old fellow; an aged rustic.

Go to each gaffer and each goody. Fawkes.

Gaffer was originally a respectful title, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt when addressed to an aged man in humble life.

2.

A foreman or overseer of a gang of laborers.

[Prov. Eng.]

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.