gopher

1
[ goh-fer ]
/ ˈgoʊ fər /

noun

verb (used without object)

Mining.
  1. to mine unsystematically.
  2. to enlarge a hole, as in loose soil, with successively larger blasts.

Origin of gopher

1
1785–95; earlier megopher, magopher gopher tortoise; of obscure origin; spelling copies gopher wood

Definition for gopher (2 of 3)

gopher 2
[ goh-fer ]
/ ˈgoʊ fər /

noun Slang.

Origin of gopher

2
1925–30; respelling of gofer by association with gopher1

Definition for gopher (3 of 3)

gofer

or go-fer, go·pher

[ goh-fer ]
/ ˈgoʊ fər /

noun Slang.

an employee whose chief duty is running errands.

Origin of gofer

1965–70; respelling of go for (verb phrase), with -er representing both vowel reduction in for and -er1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gofer

gofer gopher

Example sentences from the Web for gopher

British Dictionary definitions for gopher (1 of 2)

gopher
/ (ˈɡəʊfə) /

noun

Also called: pocket gopher any burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae, of North and Central America, having a thickset body, short legs, and cheek pouches
another name for ground squirrel
any burrowing tortoise of the genus Gopherus, of SE North America
gopher snake another name for bull snake

Word Origin for gopher

C19: shortened from earlier megopher or magopher, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for gopher (2 of 2)

gofer
/ (ˈɡəʊfə) /

noun

slang, mainly US and Canadian an employee or assistant whose duties include menial tasks such as running errands

Word Origin for gofer

C20: originally US: alteration of go for