semi-proadj.n.
colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.).
A. adj.
a. = semi-professional adj. 1b spec. of sports.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > business affairs > a business or company > [adjective] > other types of company
capitalless1837
merged1839
multinational1854
co-op1872
acquiring1880
syndicated1889
trustified1890
bottom-heavy1895
prospectusless1898
wholly-owned1906
semi-pro1908
not-for-profit1913
blue chip1924
mature1928
geared1930
liquid1930
footloose1939
monoline1958
boutique1968
greenfield1969
me-too1976
semi-professional1976
demerged1980
unbundled1980
multidomestic1982
unorganized1986
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > professional
professional1851
pro1916
semi-professional1953
semi-pro1980
1908 Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide 368 (advt.) The ‘Semi-Pro’ League Ball; regulation size and weight..Price, $1.00.
1910 Baseball Mag. Apr. 4/2 The semi-pro league flourishes.
1969 Wall St. Jrnl. 30 Sept. 28/2 Sam turned to umpiring..working in semipro and minor leagues.
1972 J. Mosedale Football viii. 116 He was playing semi-pro ball on Sundays.
1980 Washington Post 15 Aug. d2/1 The Metro Buccaneers, a first-year semipro football team, will play an exhibition game..Sunday.
b. = semi-professional adj. 1a. Chiefly in Music and Photography.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > [adjective] > trained in theoretic part of occupation > following occupation as livelihood > to earn money but not as livelihood
semi-professional1900
semi-pro1927
1927 Melody Maker Aug. 757/3 This competition will be open to amateur, semi-pro. or full pro. combinations.
1934 S. R. Nelson All about Jazz iv. 82 There are thousands of ‘semi-pro’ dance bands, the members of which work at their ordinary occupations during the day and play in their leisure.
1965 Melody Maker 17 July 15 I am forming a semi-pro trio to play at weddings.
1977 Time (Atlantic ed.) 26 Sept. 43/1 She is a semipro photographer.
B. n.
= semi-professional n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > [noun] > follower of occupation as profession > to earn money but not as livelihood
semi-professional1897
semi-pro1910
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > amateur or professional
varmint1812
shamateur1896
semi-professional1897
semi-pro1910
pro-am1951
1910 Baseball Mag. Apr. 4/2 The despised semi-pros were drawing big crowds.
1912 N.Y. Tribune 7 Oct. 8/5 Enste, of the semi-pros, connected with his slow ball..for a home run wallop.
1966 Melody Maker 15 Oct. 6 Semi-pros have always played an important role on the jazz scene.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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adj.n.1908