keeper

From Middle English kepere, equivalent to keep +‎ -er.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkiːpə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkiːpɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Rhymes: -iːpə(r)

keeper (plural keepers)

1. One who keeps something.

   Finders keepers; losers weepers.

2. (informal) A person or thing worth keeping.
   • 1970, Field & Stream (volume 75, number 7, page 76)

     "Okay, that's a keeper," Harold said as he netted the 3-pounder and put him on a stringer over the side of the boat.

   • 2005, Ladies' Home Journal, Volume 122, Issues 7-12, page 101,

     When he brought me home and volunteered to come with me while I walked my dog, Max, I knew he was a keeper.

   • 2008, Jennifer Zomar, A Candle for the Children, page 28,

     We hadn't dated for long when he said those three magic words: "I'll cook tonight." I knew he was a keeper.

3. A person charged with guarding or caring for, storing, or maintaining something; a custodian, a guard; sometimes a gamekeeper.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Bible

     And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 4, in The Dust of Conflict‎:

     The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected.

4. (sports) The player charged with guarding a goal or wicket. Short form of goalkeeper, wicketkeeper.
   • 2011 June 4, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 2 Switzerland”, in BBC‎:

     England should have capitalised on their growing momentum to win, but Darren Bent failed to reproduce the finishing touches that have brought him goals in three successive appearances. He was blocked by Diego Benaglio when he was played in by Wilshere then blazed over the top of an open goal late on after Young's shot was saved by Switzerland's keeper.

5. A part of a mechanism that catches or retains another part, for example the part of a door lock that fits in the frame and receives the bolt.
6. (American football) An offensive play in which the quarterback runs toward the goal with the ball after it is snapped.
7. One who remains or keeps in a place or position.
   • Bible, Titus ii. 5

     discreet; chaste; keepers at home

   • 1971, H. R. F. Keating, The Strong Man

     I was not altogether surprised: they seemed to be, even more than people in the surrounding wolds, stolid keepers-to-themselves, impossible to stir, dourly determined to stick to the firm routine of their lives […]

8. A fruit or vegetable that keeps for some time without spoiling.
   • Downing

     The Roxbury Russet is a good keeper.

   • 1878, Journal of Horticulture and Practical Gardening (volume 35, page 331)

     And mark you, good keepers are some years bad keepers, as this year; and a hard, heavy, unbruisable Apple that really will keep to late on in the season is doubly valuable.

• peeker

Borrowed from English keeper.

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: kee‧per

keeper m (plural keepers, diminutive keepertje n)

1. (sports) keeper, goalie

• doelman
• doelvrouw