reefer

Etymology 1

From reef + -er.

noun

1. (nautical) Someone who reefs sails, especially a midshipman.
   Her reefer cap was all on one side and on her cheek there was the print of an anchor button she had pressed on while sleeping. 1922, Katherine Mansfield, “Prelude”, in Selected Stories, Oxford, published 2002, page 85
   The mess table, at which the reefers and mates made merry, was fixed in the middle of the berth. 1905, John Masefield, Sea Life in Nelson's Times, page 27
2. A reefer jacket; a close-fitting jacket or short coat of thick cloth.

Etymology 2

Clipping of refrigerator.

noun

1. (colloquial, chiefly US) A refrigerated, insulated trailer, ship or shipping container.
   Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June In a Kenworth pullin' logs. Cab-over Pete with a reefer on And a Jimmy haulin' hogs. 1975, “Convoy”, in C.W. McCall, Chip Davis (lyrics), Black Bear Road, performed by C. W. McCall
   Next to the cash register, a bulletin board was thumbtacked with notes from deadheaders who needed loads heading west, and shippers looking for a reefer (refrigerated truck) going down to Florida. 1988, Jane Stern, Michael Stern, A taste of America, page 41
2. (rail transport, US) a refrigerator car (type of boxcar).

Etymology 3

Uncertain. Perhaps from Mexican Spanish grifa (“cannabis”) or Central American Spanish grifo (“someone who smokes cannabis”).

noun

1. (countable) A marijuana cigarette.
2. (uncountable) Marijuana.
   Daddy I don't want to go to school because the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool and all the kids smoke reefer, I think it'd be cheaper if I just got a job learned to be a street sweeper. 1982, Edward G. Fletcher, Melle Mel (lyrics and music), “The Message”, in The Message, performed by Grandmaster Flash