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gofer

/ˈgoʊfər/
IPA guide

Other forms: gofers

A gofer is someone whose job involves running various errands. A gofer in an office might deliver messages and fetch coffee, among other tasks.

If you work as a gofer on a movie set, your job might include delivering updated script pages to actors, buying crew members lunch, or tracking down small props or costume parts. The word describes anyone whose job is as a "guy (or gal) Friday," basically doing any little task that needs to be done. The word was coined in the 1950s, from the sense of "go for," and echoing the word gopher.

Definitions of gofer
  1. noun
    an employee whose duties include running errands
    see moresee less
    type of:
    employee
    a worker who is hired to perform a job
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