gropern.
/ˈɡrəʊpə/, U.S. /ˈɡroʊpər/ 1.
a. One who gropes, in various senses of the verb.
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the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > [noun] > types of search or searching > searching blindly or as if in dark > one who
groper1567
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > [noun] > one who
contrectant1657
groper1693
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [noun] > unskilful person
groper1693
inexpert1879
Hoosier1926
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Fvv A groper after nouelties.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. v. iv. 86 Those Gropers, who, to gather one according to their Mind, will spoil a hundred by the violent impression of their Unskillful Thumb.
1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 82 A substitute in the want of knowledge, a groper in the want of light.
1781 H. Swinburne Courts of Europe (1841) I. 379 A groper in politics, without sufficient steadiness or understanding to..carry through a great..plan.
1899 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 348/1 Thou groper after vainglory.
b. slang. A blind man; the blindfolded player in the game of blind-man's-buff.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [noun] > blindness > person
blindc1000
blindmanc1325
Samsonc1460
blindling1549
groper1699
darkie1807
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > parlour and party games > [noun] > blind-man's-buff, etc. > blindfold person
belly-blind?a1500
buff1647
groper1813
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Gropers, blind Men.
1813 R. H. in Examiner 17 May 315/2 A man..nearly approached by the darkened groper.
2. Nautical. Channel groper, North Sea groper: a cruiser stationed in the Channel or the North Sea.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > cruiser
cruiser1679
North Sea groper1830
barbette-cruiser1884
gun cruiser1884
cruiser-battleship1909
battle-cruiser1911
1830 F. Marryat King's Own I. xiii. 197 If he is an old Channel groper, we shall have some difficulty.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk.
3. Old slang. A pocket.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > bag or pouch worn on person > [noun]
pocketc1450
pokea1616
placket1655
sack1699
sock1699
groper1789
kick1851
jewel bag1853
jewellery bag1855
sky rocket1887
sky1890
1789 G. Parker Life's Painter xv. 143 Gropers. Pockets.
4. A jocular appellation for a West Australian. ˈGroperland n. West Australia. ˈGroperlander n. a West Australian. Cf. sand-groper n. at sand n.2 Compounds 2a.
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the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Antipodes > native or inhabitant of Australia > [noun] > parts of
bushboya1834
Melbournite1838
Melburnian1838
bushman1846
Vandemonian1852
scrubber1859
Queenslander1860
Victorian1862
Sydneysider1865
Centralian1875
Waler1880
Territorian1882
mutton-bird1892
bushy1896
sand-groper1896
tothersider1896
crow-eater1899
Bananalander1900
outbacker1900
Tassie1905
groper1924
Tasmanian1934
mutton-bird eater1941
Top-Ender1941
Kanakalander1945
1924 D. H. Lawrence & M. L. Skinner Boy in Bush iii. 39 Western Australia is full of old prisoners, black fellers, and white ones too. The whites, born here, is called ‘gropers’, if you take me, sir.
1926 ‘J. Doone’ Timely Tips for New Australians Groper, a West Australian.
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 33 Groperland, Western Australia.
1945 S. J. Baker Austral. Lang. x. 186 Western Australians.., groperlanders.
1949 Geogr. Mag. Feb. 373 Groper, a Western Australian.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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