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. 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

reefer

²

/ ˈriːfə /

noun

1. a ship, lorry, or other form of transport designed to carry refrigerated cargo

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

C19: from _reef ²; applied to the cigarette because of its resemblance to the rolled reef of a sail

Origin of reefer²

C20: shortened and adapted from refrigerator

Related Words

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