Dictionary

rozzer en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɒzə(ɹ)/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Late 19th century UK. Etymology unknown. Possibly a play on the given name of Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police Service. Compare peeler, bobby.

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK, dated, slang) A police officer.
   • Jed Mercurio’s corrupt cop hit remains one of the best shows on TV, but surely every rozzer in the Midlands knows who Kate Fleming is by now? 2017 March 25, Errigo Angie, “Dodgy detectives, Twitter trolls and whistleblowers: Line of Duty is back”, in The Guardian, TV & Radio blog:
   • ‘I was never frightened of any job yet,’ he said, ‘and I'd do this job to-night if the house was full of rozzers,’ Hill pretended that he wasn't particular whether the thing came off or not that night, but all the while he kept egging Fred on to do it. 1916, Arthur J. Rees, John R. Watson, The Hampstead Mystery:
   • If the rozzers was to see him in bona clobber they'd take him for a gun. 1893, P. H. Emerson, Signor Lippo, Burnt-Cork Artiste:
   • "Another wrong un," says the carman. "Hi, Mr. Graham!"—and up walks a rozzer and buckles me tight. 1888 May 26, The Sporting Times:

Forms

Deriveds

cozzer

Synonyms

PC Plod · garda · crowns · bluecoat · bobby · finest · barney · police officer · lawman · John Q. Law · jake · polis · policeperson · scufter · gendarme · peeler · Officer Friendly · Inspector Knacker · flatfoot · plod · buttons · Johnny Hopper · roller · cozzer · slop · bluebottle · alphabet · bull · blue heeler · charpering omi · five-o · piggy · monarch · John Law · mee-maw · finger · glowie · Old Bill · rozzer · flatty · fuzz · swine · jackboot · blue meanie · harman-beck · wooden-top · beatsman · jack · body snatcher · crusher · bizzie · fed · harman · filth · bogey · one-time · pig · walloper · cobbler · nuthook · 5-O · guardian of the peace · tyre biter · cop · policeman · police · centenier · oinker · dibble · po-po · statie · chazzer · cracker · Mr Plod · bullyman · unboiled lobster · copper · boy in blue · mutton shunter · twelve · raw lobster

Translations (11)

fr poulet ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · fr flic ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · fr keuf ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · es madero ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · sv snut ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · it poliziotto ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · de Bulle ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · es tira ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · tr aynasız ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · es chota ((slang) police officer — see also cop) · is lögga ((slang) police officer — see also cop)