English · Slang Historical

gaffer

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A master, or employer; term used by "navvies," and general in Lancashire and North of England. Early English for an old man. See "BLOW THE GAFF."

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “gaffer” mean?

A master, or employer; term used by "navvies," and general in Lancashire and North of England. Early English for an old man. See "BLOW THE GAFF."

Is “gaffer” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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