English

Alternative forms

• jailor
• gaoler (obsolete)
• gaolor

Noun

jailer ‎(plural jailers)

1. One who enforces confinement in a jail or prison.
   • 1775, Samuel Palmer, The Nonconformist's Memorial:

     Sometimes some of the ejected ministers preached to them privately, and now and then the jailer allowed Mr. H. to go out in the night to preach to them, and administer the Lord's Supper.

   • 1883, Silvio Pellico, chapter 32, in My Ten Years' Imprisonment:

     But the next morning came, and my coffee was brought by her mother; the next, and the next, by the under jailers; and Angiola continued grievously ill.

   • 2001, Sir William Mitchell Ramsay, St. Paul: The Traveler and Roman Citizen, page 176:

     The jailer was also roused by the earthquake and came to the outer door; he was perhaps a soldier, or at least had something of Roman discipline, giving him presence of mind.

Synonyms

• corrections officer
• guard
• warden
• warder

Related terms

• jaileress
• jailering
• jailership

Translations