What does growler mean?
A growler is most commonly a dog that growls, particularly one with a reputation for a deep bark or a threatening manner. The word can also describe a person who complains, mutters, or behaves in a surly and hostile way, often with a slightly humorous or affectionate edge. In informal North American English, a growler is a small glass or mug of beer, particularly a serving taken from a tap. These senses share the idea of a low, rumbling sound, although the beer sense is an independent slang extension rather than a literal description. The word is useful in conversation because it can move easily between a specific reference to an animal, a characterization of a difficult person, and a casual label for a drink. It is generally more familiar and conversational than a formal term for someone who complains.
nounA growler is a dog or other animal that growls, especially a dog known for a deep, menacing bark. By extension, it can mean a person who complains persistently or speaks in a low, hostile, or threatening voice; in North American informal use, it can also mean a small glass or mug of beer.
- A dog or other animal that growls, especially one known for barking or growling menacingly.
- A person who complains persistently, speaks in a hostile or threatening manner, or has a surly demeanor.
- A small glass or mug of beer, especially in North American informal usage.
"The dog was a growler, baring its teeth whenever a stranger approached the gate."
"The growler followed the sound of the truck all the way to the back fence."
"He ordered a growler of beer at the taproom and carried it back to his friends."
The standard plural is “growlers,” used for animals, people, and, in the informal beer sense, small glasses or mugs of beer.
"Two growlers were waiting beside the barbecue."
One word can mean a snarling dog, a cantankerous person, and a small glass of beer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does growler come from?
The word is formed from GROWL plus the agentive suffix -ER, meaning “one that growls.” The animal sense is the older and most literal development of the term. The extension to a person who complains or behaves surly followed from the association of growling with irritation and hostility. The use for a small serving of beer is a later informal development associated especially with North American drinking culture.
How growler is actually used
The word is informal when referring to a person and can sound irritable, confrontational, or humorous depending on context. The beer sense is chiefly informal and North American, although it is also understood in other English-speaking regions.
Easily confused with growler
A growl is the low, rumbling sound or act of growling, whereas a growler is the animal or person that makes such a sound.
A grouser is chiefly a person who complains or grumbles, while a growler more commonly suggests something that growls and can also refer to a beer container.