sundowner
sundowner Lexical Profile
sundowner Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British An alcoholic drink taken at sunset or the end of the day's work.
"After a long day exploring the wildlife reserve, the guests gathered on the veranda for a refreshing sundowner."
Australian A vagrant or itinerant worker who arrives at a rural station at dusk in order to obtain food and a night's lodging too late in the day to be asked to work for it.
"The station owner offered the weary sundowner a warm meal and a place to sleep in the shearing shed."
American An older person, especially one with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, who experiences increased confusion, restlessness, and agitation in the late afternoon and evening.
"The nursing staff adjusted the lighting in the ward to help calm patients who were sundowners."
American A strict, harsh, or tyrannical ship's captain or military officer, originally one who required the crew to be aboard by sundown.
"The veteran sailors warned the new recruits that the vessel's commander had a reputation as a relentless sundowner."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in Australia during the late 19th century for a vagrant arriving at a homestead at sunset to receive food and shelter without having to work, from 'sundown' + '-er'. The sense of an evening alcoholic drink emerged in British colonial usage in the early 20th century.