Street
gopher
What does gopher mean?
In old underworld cant a 'gopher' referred to a safe, and by extension to the person who broke into safes ('gopher man,' 'gopher-cracker').
"The gopher man had the door open before the guard finished his rounds."
Origin
American slang, from the burrowing animal, evoking digging into a strongbox.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'gopher' mean in underworld cant?
In old underworld cant a 'gopher' referred to a safe, and by extension to the safe-breaker who cracked it, also called a 'gopher man' or 'gopher-cracker'.
Why is a safe called a 'gopher'?
The name comes from the burrowing animal, evoking the idea of digging into a strongbox to get at what is inside.
Does 'gopher' mean the safe or the thief?
It can mean both. The safe itself is the gopher, and the man who breaks into it is the 'gopher man' or 'gopher-cracker'.
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