noun
reefer
REE-fuh
Reefer (noun) means a short, close-fitting jacket, traditionally made of thick wool cloth. Example: “He wore a navy reefer over his uniform.”
noun
1
A short, close-fitting jacket, traditionally made of thick wool cloth.
"He wore a navy reefer over his uniform."
2
A refrigerated shipping container, truck, or railway car.
"The frozen goods were loaded into a reefer for transport."
3
Slang for a marijuana cigarette.
"The old film "Reefer Madness" is now considered a cult classic for its exaggerated warnings."
How to use reefer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: a type of jacket, a refrigerated container, or slang for a joint.
When to use it
The marijuana sense is informal slang, now somewhat dated.
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Word forms
- Plural
- reefers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wore a navy _____ over his uniform.
Etymology
From reef plus -er; the jacket and clothing sense comes from sailors who reefed sails, while the marijuana sense arose independently in 20th-century slang.
Class of 1900
reefer joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for reefer
See all rhymes for reefer →Frequently asked questions
What does “reefer” mean?
The word “reefer” means a short, close-fitting jacket, traditionally made of thick wool cloth. In plain terms, depending on context: a type of jacket, a refrigerated container, or slang for a joint.
How do you pronounce “reefer”?
“Reefer” is pronounced REE-fuh (/ˈɹiːfɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “reefer” in a sentence?
Here is “reefer” used in a sentence: “He wore a navy reefer over his uniform.”
What part of speech is “reefer”?
“Reefer” is a noun.
Where does the word “reefer” come from?
The word “reefer” dates back to around 1900. From reef plus -er; the jacket and clothing sense comes from sailors who reefed sails, while the marijuana sense arose independently in 20th-century slang.
How many meanings does “reefer” have?
“Reefer” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, close-fitting jacket, traditionally made of thick wool cloth.
