roofern.
/ˈruːfə/, /ˈrʊfə/, U.S. /ˈrufər/, /ˈrʊfər/ 1. A person who constructs or repairs roofs, esp. as an occupation; (also) a roofing company.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > builder > [noun] > roofer
coverer1725
roofer1832
1832 T. Chalmers On Polit. Econ. ii. 38 Roofers, and smiths, who, in respect of their contributing to this higher style, belong not to the secondary but to the disposable population.
1869 Preston Guardian 27 Nov. 5/3 A man, named John Newdlough, roofer, who belongs to Liverpool, was engaged..in roofing a shed.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Sept. 8/2 The metal workers show their processes, also roofers, plumbers, plasterers, leather-workers.
1942 N. Pevsner Speculum 17 557 ‘Wenceslaus architector’..was..in all probability only a roofer and not an architect.
1973 R. Smidt tr. C. Pétonnet Those People iv. 29 The Arabs have tried to acquire some vocational skill. Five are skilled workmen: a lathe operator, a roofer, a plumber, and two masons.
1990 Which? May 254/1 Is your roofer ripping off slates, or ripping off you?
2001 L. de Bernières Sunday Morning at Centre of World 38 And Dave's a roofer, right? And he's got a gadget for tar.
2. slang. A hat. Cf. roof n. 9b, tile n.1 3. Now rare.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat
hateOE
nab-cheat?1536
nab1673
kelp1736
mitre1807
tile1813
gossamer1836
cady1846
roof1857
roofer1859
pancake1875
lid1896
nudger1902
tit for tat1925
titfer1927
sky1944
1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 74 Roofer, a hat.
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 61 Roofer, a hat.
3. A letter of thanks for hospitality received, etc. Cf. Collins n.2 More fully hospitable roofer. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > letter of thanks for hospitality
bread-and-butter letter1891
roofer1902
Collins1904
bread and butter1911
roofer letter1937
1902 L. Mead Word-coinage xii. 211 The word roofer is defined as a letter written after staying with a friend to express your gratitude for his hospitality.
1914 Sphere 7 Mar. 312/3 I learn from The Evening News that that which some call..a ‘roofer’—that is to say, a letter of thanks for hospitality—is also known as a Collins.
1935 F. M. Ford Let. 27 Sept. (1965) 243 They [sc. references] will at least serve as a hospitable-roofer.
1971 C. Williams-Ellis Architect Errant vii. 103 I felt that I really ought to write to the owner, Lord Townshend, at least some sort of a roofer or an apology.
Compounds
roofer letter n. now rare = sense 3.
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1937 G. Frankau More of Us vii. 75 That bashful Hebe, too, received fair tip..Sophie, red roses and a roofer letter, With ‘kind regards to her young ladyship’, And, ‘hoping the old boy's catarrh is better’.
1971 C. Williams-Ellis Architect Errant xv. 217 In my roofer letter to Vita, I, of course, paid due homage to her so passionately loved Knole.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1832