gofer

American  

[goh-fer] / ˈgoʊ fər /

Or go-fer,

noun

Slang.

1. an employee whose chief duty is running errands.

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gofer British  

/ ˈɡəʊfə /

noun

1. slang an employee or assistant whose duties include menial tasks such as running errands

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Etymology

Origin of gofer

1965–70; respelling of go for (verb phrase), with -er representing both vowel reduction in for and -er ¹

Example Sentences

He began his career in the film industry in the mid-1930s working as an extra and was a gofer at Denham Film Studios, where he first met Lean, an editor, in 1942.

From Los Angeles Times

The two first met at a Western Sizzlin steakhouse in Memphis, at a benefit for Don Ezell, the longtime gofer at Sun Records.

From New York Times

He entered show business at age 16 as a TV mailroom gofer.

From Seattle Times

“I happened to be sitting in the gofer’s seat. Nothing personal. It’s just the way the very rich and powerful are different.”

From Los Angeles Times

McCarthy climbed the political ladder from volunteer gofer for a hometown congressman to U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gopher