reefer

¹

[ ree-fer ]

noun

1. Nautical. a person who reefs.
2. a short, close-fitting coat or jacket of thick cloth, similar to a pea jacket.
3. a woman's tailored, fitted, single- or double-breasted coat of durable material with a collar.

reefer

²

[ ree-fer ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a marijuana cigarette.

reefer

³

[ ree-fer ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a refrigerator, especially one large enough to be walked into.
2. a refrigerator car, ship, truck, etc.

reefer

¹

/ ˈriːfə /

noun

1. a ship, lorry, or other form of transport designed to carry refrigerated cargo

reefer

²

/ ˈriːfə /

noun

1. nautical a person who reefs, such as a midshipman
2. another name for reefing jacket
3. slang.
   a hand-rolled cigarette, esp one containing cannabis

Word History and Origins

Origin of reefer¹

First recorded in 1800–10; reef ² + -er ¹

Origin of reefer²

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; origin uncertain; possibly from Mexican Spanish slang grifo, grifa “under the influence of marijuana”; griefo

Origin of reefer³

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; alteration and shortening of refrigerator

Word History and Origins

Origin of reefer¹

C20: shortened and adapted from refrigerator

Origin of reefer²

C19: from reef ²; applied to the cigarette because of its resemblance to the rolled reef of a sail

Example Sentences

“We were taught with Reefer Madness that it was a hard-core drug and we should veer away from it,” she says.

From The Daily Beast

Hemp, too close to reefer madness for comfort, was one of them.

From The Daily Beast

Armstrong told Harold that reefer was "medicine for headaches, toothaches, and the blues," advice Conrad took to heart.

From The Daily Beast

Kevin Murphy wrote the lyrics; he also wrote Reefer Madness.

From The Daily Beast

University of Colorado cracks down on 4/20 reefer madness, but a few students still manage to party.

From The Daily Beast

Rapidly he removed his reefer and his waistcoat, folded them, and placed them neatly beside his overall.

From Project Gutenberg

One day he asked the girls if they had met one active young reefer, who happened to belong to a distinguished family.

From Project Gutenberg

The nobles are worked up in their ship, as well as the humblest reefer of them all.

From Project Gutenberg

She gave no sign; helped her sister into the heavy reefer, and made herself comfortable in turn.

From Project Gutenberg

The little girl she stripped with her own hands and clothed her in one of Brand's flannel shirts and a commandeered reefer jacket.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bhang
• cannabis
• dope
• hashish
• hemp
• herb
• tea