OriginAfter Louis-Gabriel de Gomer, the French artillery officer who invented the design. Attested in English since the early nineteenth century.
- A conical chamber at the breech of the bore in heavy ordnance, especially in mortars.
“[Table] of dimensions of howitzers, stone and Gomer mortars, vol. 1. p. 250.”
“All iron mortars now in use have gomer chambers and brass ones conical.”
- US, slangAn opponent in combat or in training.
“We were almost invisible in our tiger stripes and ghillie suits. However, as the unit marched by, a lone gomer broke rank and ventured into the high, wet saw grass that concealed our position.”
- A male animal (cattle, swine, horse mainly) used to arouse a female or detect, through her induced behavior, her hormonal availability for reproduction. Also called a teaser, a gomer may or may not be neutered, unless this element draws the line between those two synonyms.
- informal, slangA patient who does not respond to medical treatment.
“The number of problems the two groups of patients presented to physicians was comparable; however, the pattern of their hospital stays contrasted dramatically. Gomer patients remained in the hospital ”
- countableA surname.
- countable, uncountableThe eldest son of Japheth. Equivalent to the Cimmerians.
“The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.”
Formsgomers(plural) · GOMER(alternative) · gomere(alternative) · Gomers(plural)