noun

gaffer

boss, foreman, chief lighting technician

The gaffer wants this finished by five.

The gaffer wants this finished by five.

Ask the gaffer to rig the lights.

Ask the gaffer to rig the lights.

He's a friendly old gaffer.

He's a friendly old gaffer.

the gaffer the boss or person in charge The gaffer wants this finished by five.

Synonyms: boss, manager, foreman

Likely a contraction of 'godfather' or 'grandfather'.

'Gaffer tape', used by film crews, is named after the chief lighting technician (the gaffer). Think of the 'grandfather' figure on a worksite – the person in charge.

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