From Hebrew חומר / חֹמֶר (khómer, “clay, heap, large unit of volume”).
Meanings
(historical) A former Hebrew unit of dry volume, about equal to 230 L or 6+¹⁄₂ US bushels.
Head up! For every newbegotten thou shalt gather thy homer of ripe wheat. 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 45:11:
(historical) Synonym of cor: approximately the same volume as a liquid measure.
The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 45:11:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱey-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóymos
Proto-Indo-European *teḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *-éyti
Proto-Indo-European *tḱéytibf.
Proto-Indo-European *tḱey-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Indo-European *tḱóymos
Proto-Germanic *haimaz
Proto-West Germanic *haim
Old English hām
Middle English hōm
English home
English -er
English homer
From home + -er.
Meanings
(US) A home run.
The first baseman hit a homer to lead off the ninth.
The Mets got that four-run cushion in the seventh when George Foster stepped in as a pinch-hitter and hit a two-run homer for the 5-1 final. 1983 June 27, Kevin Dupont, “METS GAIN SPLIT; STAUB TIES MARK”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 24 May 2015:
(US, colloquial) Synonym of home run (“sexual intercourse”).
Fast forward to Chase's base. Where Chase hit a homer, first at bat. Becca thrived off being sexy, having sex, watching sex. 2019, M. R. Biggs, Not 4 $ale:
“So you hit a homer, huh?” she asked, confused by his misery.
Colm nodded. “Best sex I've had in a long time. Maybe ever.” 2020, Mari Carr, Wild Night:
(US) A homing pigeon.
Each of the pigeon fanciers released a homer at the same time.
(US) A person who is extremely devoted to a favorite team.
Joe is such a homer that he would never boo the Hometown Hobos, even if they are in last place in the league.
A homing beacon.
Two general types of homer systems are in use, active homers and passive homers. Active homers contain a transmitting device which emits energy that is directed towards the target. 1961, RCA Service Company, Digest of Military Electronics, page 75:
(UK) homework
'What's the good of talking?' said Cyril. 'What I want is for something to happen. It's awfully stuffy for a chap not to be allowed out in the evenings. There's simply nothing to do when you've got through your homers.' Jane finished the last of her home-lessons and shut the book with a bang. 1904, E. Nesbit, The Phoenix and the Carpet:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱey-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóymos
Proto-Indo-European *teḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *-éyti
Proto-Indo-European *tḱéytibf.
Proto-Indo-European *tḱey-
Proto-Indo-European *-mos
Proto-Indo-European *tḱóymos
Proto-Germanic *haimaz
Proto-West Germanic *haim
Old English hām
Middle English hōm
English home
English -er
English homer
From home + -er.