gator

or ga·ter, ’ga·ter

[gey-ter]

noun

Southern U.S. Informal. alligator.

Origin of gator

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; shortened form

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gator

Contemporary Examples of gator

The Tea Party candidate also released his first TV ad, "Gator."
Palin Backs Alligator Taming Senate Candidate
Olivia Nuzzi
May 8, 2014
Translation: Talk to Ya Later, Ta Ta for Now, and Later, Gator.
Should This Woman's Books Be Banned?
Abigail Pesta
April 11, 2012
Almost no one comes to ride the airboats or stare at the leathery monsters in the gator pit.
Great Weekend Reads
The Daily Beast
February 12, 2011

Historical Examples of gator

"It's a big 'gator," he murmured to Professor Ditson, who stood beside him.
The Inca Emerald
Samuel Scoville
For while we were halting in a glen to feed, Gator's rifle stood against a rock.
Dariel
R. D. Blackmore
He could just make out the ugly head of the gator beneath the surface.
The Motor Boys in Mexico
Clarence Young
In the water that gator could go a hundred feet, almost, to your one!
The Motor Boat Club in Florida
H. Irving Hancock
"Especially when a 'gator is chasing you," reminded Ned Rector.
The Pony Rider Boys in Louisiana
Frank Gee Patchin

British Dictionary definitions for gator

gator

gater

noun

mainly US informal an alligator

Word Origin for gator

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

Word Origin and History for gator

n.

1844, colloquial shortening of alligator.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper