British Army slang for a cigarette believed to date from around the time of the Second Boer War 1899 – 1902. A gasper was a high tar cigarette, without any sort of filter tip, such as Woodbine or Capstan. They got the name because smoking caused the troops to gasp for breath when engaged in strenuous exercise.
“I'd just got clipped by a Boer bullet, nuffin' serious, so Jack gimme a gasper while he put a dressing on it.”
British Army slang believed to date from around the time of the Second Boer War 1899 - 1902, so called because smoking caused the troops to gasp for breath when engaged in strenuous exercise.
I'd just got clipped by a Boer bullet, nuffin' serious, so Jack gimme a gasper while he put a dressing on it.