gooseberry-picker en · NOUN
Meanings
- (British, archaic, slang) One who works on behalf of another person who takes the credit for the work.
-
(British, archaic, slang) A chaperone.
The Solicitor-General: I understand that a gooseberry-picker is the person who stands by whilst a young man and young woman are making love (laughter).
1869, Susannah M. Saurin (plaintiff.), Extraordinary Trial by a Sister of Mercy: Saurin Versus Starr (page 78)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gooseberry-pickers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Hypernyms
surrogate (one who works on another behalf)
Hyponyms
ghost writer (one who works on another behalf)