gaoler

Everyday

(UK, old spelling) A person whose job is to guard prisoners in a prison; a jailer or prison officer. tree →

In the lessons

Gaoler is the old British spelling of jailer, found in old books. In The Wind in the Willows, Toad is locked in a dungeon guarded by an old gaoler; the gaoler's kind daughter feels sorry for Toad and helps him escape dressed as her aunt, the washerwoman. Today we say prison officer.

Examples

• The old gaoler jangled his keys outside Toad's cell. tree →
• The gaoler's daughter brought Toad hot buttered toast and tea. tree →
• The gaoler locked the heavy door and walked away. tree →
• Long ago the gaoler lived in a small house beside the gaol. tree →
• The gaoler counted the prisoners every evening. tree →
• In the story, the gaoler never noticed that Toad had gone. tree →
• The gaoler of the castle was a grumpy man with a lantern. tree →
• Luckily her gaoler was away, always trying to catch the stud of mares, so for the moment she was free and alone. tree →

Note

Sounds exactly like «jailer». The spelling gaol/gaoler is old British; in the USA and most modern writing it is jail/jailer. Today the job title is prison officer (UK) or correctional officer (US).