A Geezer Is Old in America and Not in Britain
Geezer means an old man in American English. In British English it means a man, often with approval.
Geezer is informal slang for a man, and the two main varieties of English disagree about it. In America it means an old man, usually eccentric and slightly ridiculous. In Britain, especially London, it simply means a bloke, and *a proper geezer* is a compliment implying confidence and street competence. The word probably comes from *guiser*, a masked performer.
- An old man (American). *A cranky old geezer.*
- A man (British). *He is a good geezer.*
- A confident man (London). *A proper geezer.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | geezer | An old geezer. |
| Plural | geezers | Two geezers. |
| Related | guiser | A Christmas guiser. |
| Related | guise | In another guise. |
| Related | bloke | A decent bloke. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Some old geezer complained.American: dismissive.
- He is a diamond geezer.London: a thoroughly good man.
- A guiser wore a disguise.The likely origin.
British words for a man
- Geezer — informal, London-flavoured
- Bloke — the general everyday word
- Chap — slightly old-fashioned and genteel
- Lad — a young man, or an enthusiastic one
- Fella — informal, from fellow
Probably from dialect *guiser*, a masked performer or mummer, from *guise*, a disguise. Recorded from the late nineteenth century.
Is geezer rude?
In America it is mildly dismissive about age. In Britain it is neutral or complimentary, though always informal.
What is a diamond geezer?
London slang for a thoroughly decent and reliable man. High praise.