| 释义 |
groaner|ˈgrəʊnə(r)|
[f. prec. + -er1.]
a. One who groans; also slang, a thief who attends funerals or religious gatherings.
1795Potter Dict. Cant., Groaner and Sigher, wretches hired by methodists and others to attend their meetings for the purposes of fraud. 1848in Duncombe's Sinks of Lond. 109 Groaners, a sort of wretches who attend meetings, sighing and looking demure; in the meantime their pals pick the pockets of those persons who may be in the same pew with them. 1876Whitby Gloss., A desperate greeaner, a great complainer. 1884A. Forbes Chinese Gordon ii. 66 The gunner non-coms. replied with groans. The most vehement groaner, a corporal, Gordon dragged out of the rank and had him shot on the spot.
b. A whistling buoy. local U.S.
1903G. S. Wasson in Century Aug. 538/1 ‘These here plaguy bell-b'ys an' groaners is a ter'ble old nuisance, you!’ exclaimed Cap'n Roundturn. 1941T. S. Eliot Dry Salvages 5 Groaner: a whistling buoy. Ibid. i. 8 The heaving groaner Rounded homewards..Measures time not our time. 1947C. D. White Handbk. Sailing xxii. 236 Effective at night in fog or low visibility, whistling buoys do not sound like a whistle but like a groan, and are called ‘groaners’ by seafaring men. |