Gaffer

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
In that context, I don't know. Didn't see the movie. In general context, I wouldn't call it an insult. At most, slightly disrespectful and about the same as "old fogie" or "old ****".

Of course, anything can be used with intent to insult. I can see someone Joey's age using "old gaff

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
Elsewhere in the books, we hear of "gaffers and gammers," in a context which leads me to believe we're talking about "grandfathers and grandmothers," in childspeak. Not necessarily biologically speaking, either, but in a certain kind of respected village oldster way.

Cheers,
Jod

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
I don't know the context of the movie or the use by Tolkein, but outside those settings "the gaffer" is just a friendly term for "the boss".
It's heard most often where there's a crew or work gang of some sort building sites, warehouses and such-like but I've heard it in white- collar se

[nq:1]On 23 Dec 2003, wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know the context of the movie or the use by Tolkein, but outside those settings "the gaffer" is ... of some sort building sites, warehouses and such-like but I've heard it in white- collar settings as well.[/nq]
Yes. 'My old gaffer', cou

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
Neither, I'd say - term of familiarity. It's like "grampa".

-Aaron J. Dinkin
Dr. Whom

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
In The Lord of the Rings Sam Gamgee calls his father, Hamfast "Ham" Gamgee, his "gaffer". I can't remember whether Ham Gamgee was generally known as "the Gaffer" in Hobbiton and Bywater. But it's a term of respect, certainly, at least among the rustic lower classes of that part of the Shire.

[nq:2]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
[nq:1]In The Lord of the Rings Sam Gamgee calls his father, Hamfast "Ham" Gamgee, his "gaffer". I can't ... But it's a term of respect, certainly, at least among the rustic lower classes of that part of the Shire.[/nq]
i.e. just as in Warwickshire in 1910
when Tolkien was a boy.

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
In BrE never an insult. Tending to respect. Used as a term for an elderly person or an actual boss (around foreman level). Samwise Gamgee's Dad, old Hamfast Gamgee, was nicknamed 'Gaffer'.
Ah, it's likely gone six months ago
I came to Dublin town,
Where I joined a gang of lab'rin

[nq:2]In The Lord of the Rings Sam Gamgee ... the rustic lower classes of that part of the Shire.[/nq]
[nq:1] i.e. just as in Warwickshire in 1910 when Tolkien was a boy.[/nq]
Although in 1910 Tolkien was 18 and living in Birmingham
John 'I know it's in Warwickshire, it's just not very Shire-y' Dean Oxford
De-frag to reply

[nq:1]"My old gaffer" was used near the end of the latest Hobbit movie. Insult or term of respect?[/nq]
"gaffer" is a term used in northern England with the meaning "boss". In the South East they use an equivalent term, "guv" (governor).

Dave