candy striper
nounEtymology First appears in the US c. 1944, from candy stripe + -er, due to the red-and-white striped jumpers worn by hospital volunteers, which resembled stick candy (being candy-striped); originally worn by a group of high-school girls who volunteered as hospital workers at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey.
1
US A volunteer worker in a hospital or hospice.
- Related terms
- candy girl, candy stripe