ELDER, ELDERLY
(also see OLD)
ADJECTIVES
► AGESOME elderly → 1883 Eng. dial.
► ALONG IN YEARS elderly; growing old → 1853
► BADGERLY greyish-haired, elderly → 1753
► ELDELDERN elderly, advanced in years → 1765 Sc.
► ELDERN elderly → c1200 obs. exc. Sc.
► FAIRISH elderly → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► OLDLY verging on old age; elderly → 1382 obs.
► PAST-MERIDIAN past one’s prime, elderly → 1898
► TABBY pertaining to a tabby (an old or elderly maiden lady) → 1746
NOUNS
► GERONTOPHILIA a sexual attraction to the elderly → 1991 (Bk.)
NOUNS – PERSON
► ABUELA in Spanish-speaking contexts: a grandmother; generally, an elderly woman; also, a familiar title or form of address → 1836
► ABUELITA in Spanish-speaking contexts: a grandmother; generally, an elderly woman; also, a familiar title or form of address → 1937
► ABUELO in Spanish-speaking contexts: a grandfather; generally, an elderly man; also, a familiar title or form of address → 1876
► ALTE KACKER an elderly man → 1911 US Jewish sl.
► AUNT a term of familiarity or respect applied to an elderly woman, not necessarily implying relationship → 1746 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► AUNTIE, AUNTY 1. an elderly woman unrelated to the speaker; used as a term of respectful address → 1801 Eng. & Amer. dial.
2. an elderly Black woman, used as a term of respectful address → 1835 Amer. dial.
► BAG a disparaging term for a woman; an unattractive, elderly, obnoxious or otherwise unpleasant woman → 1922 sl., orig. US
► BAP a father; in Caribbean use, any older man, esp. one of South Asian descent → 1842 South Asian & Caribbean
► BHOWJI an elderly East Indian woman → 1996 W. Indies
► BIDDY a woman, often used disparagingly, esp. of an elderly, gossipy, or dissolute woman → L18
► BIT OF GREY an elderly person who is recruited to attend weddings or funerals and by their presence add a degree of solemnity to the proceedings → 1883 UK sl.
► BLOND SWEDE an elderly man → 1968 Amer. logging usage
► BLUE-HAIR an elderly person, esp. a woman, as characterized by having hair treated with a blue rinse → 1949 colloq.
► BOILER a woman of a certain age, an unattractive or unfeminine woman, esp. one who is middle-aged or elderly → 1962 sl., derogatory
► BUFFER an elderly man → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► CODGER an elderly person → 1910 Amer. dial., often derogatory
► CRUMBLIE ► CRUMBLY an elderly person, older than a ‘wrinkly’; a person considered to be old or senile → 1976 sl.
► DADDY one’s grandfather; an older man → 1883 Amer. dial.
► DADDY-GRAND one’s grandfather; an older man → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DADDY-PAW one’s grandfather; an older man → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DOTTEREL a silly, stupid person, esp. one who is easily duped; an elderly person whose mental faculties are impaired → 1440
► DOTTLE a foolish or stupid person; an elderly person whose mental faculties are impaired → 1400 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
► DOWAGER a dignified elderly lady → E19 colloq.
► EILDS elderly persons → 1812 Sc.
► ELDERLING an elderly person → 1863
► GAFF an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect → 1576 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► GAFFER orig. applied by country people to an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect → 1575
► GEEZER an elderly and generally unattractive woman → Bk1958 Eng. sl.
► GENERAL a term of respect to an elderly person → Bk1900 Eng. dial.
► GERONTOPHILE one having a sexual attraction to the elderly → 1991 (Bk.)
► LUCKY an elderly woman; a grandmother; also, a woman of any age, esp. a wife or mistress → 1629 Sc.
► MAIDEN an old maid; an elderly unmarried lady → 1883 Eng. dial.
► MOSS-BACK an old or elderly person with old-fashioned or reactionary ideas or habits → 1873
► MOTHER-YOUNG-GIRL an ageing woman who tries to be younger than her years → 1995 W. Indies
► NANA ► NANNA a mother; an elderly woman → 1892 Amer. dial.
► NAUNT a title of courtesy applied to an elderly woman → 1790 Eng. dial.
► OLD BAT a disagreeable, middle-aged or elderly woman; an unpleasant or despicable female; an unattractive or foolish old woman → 1886 UK sl.
► OLD BIDDY an elderly, gossipy, or dissolute woman; a fussy, mean or quarrelsome old woman → 1938 colloq.
► OLD CODGER an elderly person → 1910 Amer. dial., often derogatory
► OLD CRACKERS elderly people, especially parents or in-laws → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► OLD EWE DRESSED LAMB-FASHION, AN an elderly woman dressed in a juvenile style → Bk1905 Eng. dial.
► OLD GOAT any elderly, disliked person, most often a man, but may be a woman; an elderly person disliked for being pompous, stingy, mean, stubborn, unsympathetic to younger people or the like → 20C US colloq.
► OLD HEAD a veteran; an elderly person; an old-timer → 1899 US sl.
► OLD MAID a person with the alleged characteristics of an elderly spinster, such as primness, prudery, fastidiousness, etc. → Aust. sl., derogatory
► OLD WIGSBY an ill-tempered, narrow-minded, elderly man → 1842 UK middle class usage
► OLDER HEAD an elderly person; an old-timer → 1891 Amer. dial.
► OLDSTER one who is no longer a ‘youngster’; an elderly person; an old person, or a more experienced person → 1848
► SAGA LOUT an elderly person who behaves badly → 2004 UK sl.
► SAGES OF THE TOWN the elders or wise persons of the town → 1877 Eng. dial. obs. (Bk.)
► SCHFATZER an old or elderly man → 1930s sl.
► SIRE a person of some note or importance; an aged or elderly man; also, generally, a man, a fellow → 1362
► SUGAR DADDY an elderly man who lavishes gifts on a young woman (in return for sex) → 1926 sl., orig. US
► TAB an elderly woman → 1849 sl.
► TABBY an old or elderly maiden lady; an old maid; sometimes applied to any spiteful or ill-natured female gossip or tattler → 1761
► TABS an aging woman → 1909 theatrical sl.
► WOOPIE ► WOOPY an elderly person able to enjoy an affluent and active lifestyle in retirement → 1986 sl., orig. N. Amer.
► YEEPIE a youthful, energetic, elderly person involved in everything → Bk2006 Amer. sl.
► ZAIDY ► ZAYDE a grandfather; an elderly man; frequently used as a respectful form of address or term of endearment → 1946