oater

American  

[oh-ter] / ˈoʊ tər /

noun

Slang.

1. a movie, television show, etc., about the frontier days of the U.S. West; western; horse opera.

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Etymology

Origin of oater

First recorded in 1945–50; oat + -er ¹

Example Sentences

That shift occasionally complemented the oater, as in 1970’s “Little Big Man.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 25, 2018

Our guide, Scott Cooper, who adapted an unpublished manuscript by the screenwriter Donald E. Stewart into this handsome oater, has updated the talking points to take account of changed sensibilities.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2017

While it may lack the enthusiastic critical consensus of  “Hell or High Water” or the epic mainstream appeal of “The Magnificent Seven” remake, this smartly cast, vengeance-fueled oater proves mighty entertaining in its own right.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2016

Baird Whitlock’s biblical epic looks hammy enough to eat for Christmas dinner while TCM would be too embarrassed to play Hobie Doyle’s latest oater at any hour of the night.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2016

Thus, "Fanciulla" is a kind of High Sierras "Tosca" — an irresistibly melodic, poignantly sentimental oater that turns out happily, a rare occurrence in any Puccini opera.

From Chicago Tribune • Jan. 24, 2011