a tramp, esp one who seeks food and lodging at sundown when it is too late to work
2. nautical
a strict ship's officer
3. informal, mainly British
an alcoholic drink taken at sunset
4. New Zealand slang
a lazy sheepdog
sundowner in American English
(ˈsʌnˌdaʊnər)
noun
1. Austral, Informal
a tramp or vagrant
2. British, Informal
an alcoholic drink taken at sunset
3. US, Nautical; Slang
an officer who is a strict disciplinarian
Word origin
(sense 1) sundown + -er: from habitually arriving at a stock farm too late for work but early enough to receivea night's lodging and food; (sense 3) from requiring return from shore leave by sundown
Examples of 'sundowner' in a sentence
sundowner
That old sundowner who talked to you about it, was he the one who walked off with Ma's gold watch?
Holt, Victoria THE BLACK OPAL
He would have gone long ago if it hadn't been for the sundowner.
Holt, Victoria THE BLACK OPAL
I just don't like turning a sundowner away," said Mr Forman.