gasper

[gas-per, gah-sper]

noun

British Slang.

1. a cigarette.

gasper

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasper¹

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

Example Sentences

Natural disasters, while devastating, are a chance for politicians to show voters their competence and humanity — or lack thereof — in a crisis, John Gasper, an economics professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said in an interview with Salon.

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Gasper’s prior research found that incumbent presidents who approve disaster funding are seen more favorably by voters and those that don’t are viewed negatively by voters.

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“How an official responds ends up being a good test of leadership for a voter constituent,” Gasper said.

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Any wrong move is often bolstered by negative media attention and will likely stay in a voter's mind the closer a disaster is to an election, Gasper explained.

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Gasper said it’s “hard to say” whether Harris and Trump’s response to Helene will be a “deciding difference” in November’s election, but decisions and images may linger in voters’ minds as they head to the polls amidst devastating loss of life and livelihoods.

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Related Words

• smoke