Gaffer

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æfÉ™(r)

From Middle English gaffe ("a hook") + -er. The natural lighting on early film sets was adjusted by opening and closing flaps in the tent cloths, called gaff cloths or gaff flaps.

Full definition of gaffer

Noun

1. (film) A chief lighting technician for a motion-picture or television production.
2. A glassblower.
• 2003, Jennifer Bosveld, Glass Works (page 18)The apprentice carries a gather of glass on the blowpipe to the gaffer's bench ...

Related terms

• gaffer tape

Likely a contraction of godfather, but with the vowels influenced by grandfather. Compare French compère, German gevatter.

Noun

1. (colloquial) An old man.
2. (British) A foreman.
3. An "Old Gaffer" is a sailor.
4. In Maritime regions "the Little Gaffer" is the baby in the house.

Synonyms

Related terms

• gammer