| 释义 |
gaffer|ˈgæfə(r)|
Also 6, 8 gaffar.
[The analogy of the continental synonyms, F. compère, commère, Ger. gevatter, would suggest that gaffer, gammer are contractions of godfather, godmother rather than of grandfather, -mother; but the change of vowel may be due to association with these words.]
1. A term applied originally by country people to an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect.
a. Prefixed by way of respect (sometimes with an affectation of rusticity) to a proper name, the designation of a calling, office, etc. In 17–18th c. the usual prefix, in rustic speech, to the name of a man below the rank of those addressed as ‘Master’ (cf. goodman).
1575J. Still Gamm. Gurton v. ii, Then chad ben drest be⁓like, as ill by the masse, as gaffar vicar. 1635E. Pagitt Christianogr. 200 Were they called Gaffer Bishops, or had they not more honorable Titles? 1651Randolph, etc. Hey for Honesty i. i. Wks. (1875) 386 This same gaffer Phoebus is a good mounte⁓bank and an excellent musician. 1693G. Firmin Rev. Mr. Davis's Vind. iv. 31 For a Man, who before was but a Gaffer, to be now called Master, to have the people follow him, and he to frequent their Tables, is a better Trade, then to be Threshing, or such like work. 1714Gay Sheph. Week v. 151 For Gaffer Tread-well told us, by the by, Excessive Sorrow is exceeding dry. 1742Fielding J. Andrews i. ii, Mr. Joseph Andrews..was esteemed to be the only Son of Gaffar and Gammer Andrews. 1806Fessenden Democr. I. 89 Made them shake hands both wig and tory As Gaffer Homer tells the story. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xvi, You have marred my ramble, Gaffer Glover.
b. Used simply as a title of address, often with no intimation of respect = my good fellow.
1590R. W. Three Lds. & Ladies Lond. in Hazl. Dodsley VI. 395 You speak too late, gaffer, having challenged preheminence. 1628Ford Lover's Mel. iii. iii, I pray your blessing, gaffer. a1659Cleveland Answ. to Pamph. Poems, etc. (1677) 132 But, hark you, Gaffer; you that will tear the Speech and blow away the Sand. 1755Smollett Quix. (1803) IV. 58 ‘Gaffer,’ said he, ‘is there stuff enough here to make me a cap?’ 1796G. M. Woodward Eccent. Excurs. 89 The [Bucks] women, resolving not to drop a good old custom, call their husbands Gaffer. 1856J. H. Newman Callista 67 My good old gaffer, you're one of the old world. 1884J. Payne Tales fr. Arabic II. 42 Harkye, gaffer! Thou hast no knowledge of this ass's case.
2. An elderly rustic; an old fellow. Also simply, a fellow.
1589Pappe w. Hatchet 7 Now haue at you all my gaffers of the rayling religion. 1653Urquhart Rabelais ii. xxxi, The best little gaffer that was to be seen between this and the end of a staffe. 1710Dame Huddle's Let. (N.) My gaffer only said, he would inform himself as well as he could against next election and keep a good conscience. 17..Country Vicar in Fawkes Poems (Chalmers) 278 And through the parish, with their how d'ye, Go to each gaffer and each goody. 1862T. A. Trollope Marietta I. iii. 41 The gaffers and gammers of the quarter..gossiped Tuscan-wise on their doorsteps. 1882M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. iii. 27 The old gaffers and goodies had known her all their lives.
3. A master, a ‘governor’. Obs. exc. dial.
a1659Cleveland Gen. Poems, etc. (1677) 88 Every twice a day the Teaching Gaffer Brings up his Easter-book to Chaffer. 1735Dyche & Pardon, Gaffer, a familiar Word mostly used in the Country for Master. 1876Surrey Gloss. s.v., ‘Look out! here comes the gaffer.’ 1881Leicestersh. Gloss., Gaffer, the master of the house, farm, etc.
b. The foreman or overman of a gang of workmen; a headman.
1841Hartshorne Salop. Antiqua Gloss., Gaffer, a superintendant, overlooker, head workman, leader of a band of reapers. 1856Househ. Words XIII. 545/2 Their own arrangement was made..entirely by the men and their gaffers (sub⁓contractors). 1862Chamb. Jrnl. 215/2 The overman, or ‘t' gaffer’, as the banksman called him, at once volunteered to shew me over the mine. 1897Daily Chron. 28 Oct. 4/7 Some of the employers and gaffers keep public-houses and provision shops.
Hence ˈgaffership, the position of gaffer.
1895Cornh. Mag. July 20 This ‘gaffership’ suited Cleg so well that [etc.]
▸ orig. U.S. The chief electrician in a film or television production unit, esp. in a lighting crew.
1936Words Oct. 6/2 The head electrician is the ‘gaffer’..‘best boy’ is the gaffer's assistant. 1954Western Folklore 13 9 ‘Gaffer’..usually applies peculiarly to electrical foremen. The ‘gaffer's’ assistant is the ‘best boy’. 1986K. Malkiewicz Film Lighting 20/1 Most often cameramen leave it to the gaffer to decide on the particular lighting instruments to be used. 1993Independent on Sunday 24 Oct. (Review Suppl.) 26/2 You spot the slender beauty of Michelle Pfeiffer or Isabella Rossellini, but they're nearly lost in the throng of fat, bearded gaffers and grips, their belts ringed with tools.
▸ gaffer tape n. (also gaffa tape, gaffer's tape) after use of the tape by electricians for holding electrical cables securely in place a strong, cloth-backed, waterproof, adhesive tape (cf. duck tape n. at duck n.3 Additions, duct tape n. at duct n. Additions).
1977Newsweek 7 Feb. 36/1 Arvidson borrowed some ‘*gaffer's tape’ from a TV technician. 1986K. Malkiewicz Film Lighting 40 Their function can be further modified with gaffer tape. 2001Evening Standard (Nexis) 5 Mar. 26 One is dressed in a sky-blue, graffiti T-shirt with fluorescent squiggles and gaffa tape stuck on it. |