gasper

American  

[gas-per, gah-sper] / ˈgæs pər, ˈgɑ spər /

noun

British Slang.

1. a cigarette.

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gasper British  

/ ˈɡɑːspə /

noun

1. a person who gasps

2. old-fashioned a cheap cigarette

3. informal something that shocks one or causes one to gasp in astonishment

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Etymology

Origin of gasper

First recorded in 1910–15; gasp + -er ¹

Example Sentences

I gasped loudly, the lone gasper in a room of eight-odd souls.

From Washington Post • May 17, 2018

"Anybody aboard?" he bellowed as he wandered through the metal guts of the old gasper.

From Time Magazine Archive

Former jocks chose push ups or the old football squad gasper, running in place; veterans of yoga groups did yoga bends; dancers did dancers' stretches.

From Time Magazine Archive

Attorneys need, before they start, Five years of training, but the grasper Who grudges one to vocal art Will end, as he began, a gasper.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, December 15, 1920 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Here and there a man is puffing at his beloved "gasper" with the nonchalance that marks your bull-dog breed when stern work is afoot.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, 1920-04-14 by Various

Related Words

• smoke