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

Related Words

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