A person whose job is to construct or repair roofs.
Roofer comes from 'roof,' which traces back to Old English 'hrof' and ultimately to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to cover' or 'to protect.' Interestingly, this same root gives us 'shrub' (something that covers the ground) and possibly 'scarf' (something that covers the neck). The '-er' suffix making 'roofer' is relatively modern - medieval roof builders were called 'thatchers,' 'tilers,' or 'slaters' depending on their materials.
The word 'roofer' connects to 'shrub' through ancient language - both come from the same prehistoric root meaning 'to cover'! Our ancestors saw the roof of a house and the covering of plants as fundamentally the same concept: protection from above. Medieval people would recognize the connection immediately, since many roofs were literally made of plant materials.
Roofing was male-dominated occupationally; 'roofer' carries implicit maleness despite no linguistic gender marker. Women entered this trade significantly only from the 1970s onward.
Use 'roofer' neutrally for any person in the role; no gendered alternatives needed, but avoid 'roofman.'
Women roofers like those pioneering in union apprenticeships (1980s forward) challenged occupational segregation; acknowledge their presence when relevant.
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