candy striper en · NOUN
Etymology
First appears in the US c. 1944, from candy stripe + -er, due to the red-and-white striped jumpers worn by hospital volunteers, which resembled stick candy (being candy-striped); originally worn by a group of high-school girls who volunteered as hospital workers at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey.
Meanings
- (US) A volunteer worker in a hospital or hospice.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| candy-striper | alternative | lexicographic | |
| candystriper | alternative | lexicographic | |
| candy stripers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |