| 释义 |
loafer|ˈləʊfə(r)|
[? f. loaf v.2 + -er1; but the n. may be the source of the vb. by back-formation.]
1. One who spends his time in idleness.
1830Mechanic's Press (Utica, N.Y.) 10 July 274/1 Nor are they topers at taverns, or benchers at groceries, or loafers who ‘chase misfortune o'er the towpath’. 1835Knickerbocker VI. 63 The late Ben Smith, Loafer. I present an outline sketch of one of that species of the genus homo..which Custom has christened with the expressive appellation of Loafer! 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast vii. 17 The men appeared to be the laziest people upon the face of the earth; and indeed..there are no people to whom the newly invented Yankee word of ‘loafer’ is more applicable than to the Spanish Americans. 1842Dickens Amer. Notes (1850) 130/2 When we stop to change, some two or three half-drunken loafers will come loitering out with their hands in their pockets. 1852Thoreau Autumn (1894) 46 Even insects in my path are not loafers, but have their special errands. 1873Leland Eng. Gipsies & their Lang. vi. 89 When the term first began to be popular in 1834 or 1835, I can distinctly remember that it meant to pilfer. Such, at least, is my earliest recollection, and of hearing school boys ask one another in jest, of their acquisitions or gifts, ‘Where did you loaf that from?’ A petty pilferer was a loafer, but in a very short time all of the tribe of loungers in the sun, and the disreputable pickers up of unconsidered trifles,..were called loafers. 1893Liddon, etc. Life of Pusey I. ii, Older boys knew that he was no loafer: and when he felt unwell he could always get off ‘fagging cricket’.
attrib.1888Bryce Amer. Commw. II. lvii. 397 Among the ‘loafer’ class. 1896J. Davidson Fleet Street Eclog. Ser. ii. 81, I see the loafer-burnished wall.
2. [cf. Sp. lobo wolf.] A timber wolf, Canis lupus nubilus, found in the south-western part of North America; = lobo. Also attrib.
1878McDanield & Taylor Coming Empire v. v. 314 The Mexicans call these big wolves ‘lobos’ and the Texans call them ‘loafers’ which is a corruption of the Mexican word. 1908Sat. Even. Post 4 July 16/3 One of the loafers had run in, leaping out of the black like a streak of gray light. 1948Ibid. 10 July 80/3 With loafers,..mountain lions or bears, he was absolutely ruthless. 1974Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 16 June 13/2 The lobo wolf derived its name from a word in the Blackfoot Indian language meaning ‘buffalo wolf’ and sounding like ‘lobo’, the Spanish word for wolf. They were also known as the buffalo grey or loafer wolf as they followed migrations of bison.
3. a. Usu. pl. The proprietary name of a shoe for wearing on informal occasions.
1939Trade Marks Jrnl. 19 Apr. 520/2 Loafer. Boots, shoes, slippers, sandals, leggings and gaiters. Fortnum and Mason Ltd.—London. 1948M. Sturges-Jones In Wedlock Wake 11 Pullover sweaters, bobby socks, and leather loafers. 1963T. Pynchon V vi. 136 Profane kicked off his shoes—old black loafers of Geronimo's—and concentrated on dancing in his socks. 1971‘V. X. Scott’ Surrogate Wife 161, I saw him standing there in lean slacks..and suède loafers. 1972Last Whole Earth Catalog (Portola Inst.) 406/2 The big thing for guys is jeans or slacks, button-down shirts or T-shirts and brown loafers without socks.
b. A type of jacket for informal wear.
1959Trade Marks Jrnl. 19 Aug. 688/2 Loafers... Jackets. Chas. MacIntosh & Company Limited,..London. 1969P. Roth Portnoy's Complaint 125 My clip-on tie and my two-tone ‘loafer’ jacket.
Hence many nonce-wds., as ˈloaferdom, the state of being a loafer; ˈloaferess, a female loafer; ˈloafering, the practice or ‘occupation’ of a loafer; in quot. attrib.; ˈloaferish a., somewhat of a loafer; pertaining to or characteristic of a loafer; ˈloaferism, the practice of loafing; ˈloafery, (a) = loaferism; (b) a place where people loaf; ˈloafership, the state of being a loafer.
1842B. M. Norman Yucatan iv. (1843) 88 The Casa-real..was the loafering-place of the Indians. 1861Macm. Mag. IV. 76/1 Encouraging ‘loafery’ by the instances we are going to adduce of Idleness and Scampishness succeeding where Philosophy has failed. 1866Howells Venet. Life xix, A scene composed of the four pleasant ruffians in the loaferish postures which they have learned as facchini waiting for jobs. 1885Advance (Chicago) 16 July 458 Loafers and loaferesses. 1889Home Missionary (N.Y.) Dec. 362 Loaferism and blackguardism. 1889Field 28 Sept. 448/1 The dangers which ‘loafership’ entails upon the future of any juvenile. 1893Scribner's Mag. Feb. 262/2 A mere loaferish breach of the peace. 1894Forum (U.S.) May 276 The steps from enforced idleness down into loaferdom..and crime are short and near together. 1898Daily Tel. 10 Feb. 7/3 The Whitechapel Guardians have been considering a proposal to call their workhouse by another name... Perhaps ‘House of Repose’ or ‘The Loaferies’ would be appropriate. 1903Liberty Rev. July 7 A new trap is set for it—the free loafery at the corner. |