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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 notes

In 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.

Word forms

reefers plural, reefers plural, reefers plural

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Test yourself on “reefer” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

· First attested 1900

Class of 1900 reefer joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →

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.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial