gator

[ gey-ter ]

noun
  1. Southern U.S. Informal. alligator.

Origin of gator

1
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; shortened form
  • Also ga·ter, ’ga·ter .

Words Nearby gator

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gator in a sentence

  • They get a chunk of lead right through one eye and usually that's the end of Mr. 'gator.

  • "Indeed I would," answered the double-jointed tail 'gator, who could wobble his flippers both ways.

    Uncle Wiggily in the Woods | Howard R. Garis
  • The 'gator was taken with a "fly" tied on a shark-hook, the hackled body being a squirrel's tail, with wings of a small seagull.

    Fishing With The Fly | Charles F. Orvis and Others
  • She gave Mrs. 'gator twenty beautiful white eggs, and Mrs. 'gator was perfectly happy.

    Mother West Wind "Where" Stories | Thornton W. Burgess
  • Then one day Mrs. 'gator crawled out on land and right away discovered what those legs were for.

    Mother West Wind "Where" Stories | Thornton W. Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for gator

gator

gater

/ (ˈɡeɪtə) /


noun
  1. mainly US informal an alligator

Origin of gator

1
C19

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012