Etymology From Middle English professor, professour, from Anglo-Norman proffessur and its etymon Latin professor (“declarer, person who claims knowledge”), from the past participle stem of profiteor (“profess”). By surface analysis, profess + -or.
1
The most senior rank for an academic at a university or similar institution.
Professor is what you become after teaching for twenty to thirty years.2014 November 22, Michel Clasquin-Johnson, “What is the difference between a research professor and a professor”, in Quora:
2
Philippines, US, Informal A teacher or faculty member at a college or university regardless of formal rank.
3
Archaic One who professes something, such as a religious doctrine.
[…] I alvvayes thought / It vvas both impious and vnnaturall, / That ſuch immanity and bloody ſtrife / Should reigne among Profeſſors of one Faith.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 114, column 2:
As for Religion, I have not said, much lesse meant irreverently of it, or of the Professors thereof.1660, William Petty, Reflections upon some Persons and Things in Ireland, page 170, column 1:
1 more example
This period in which Abraham the Jew lived was one in which Magic was almost universally believed in, and in which its Professors were held in honour;1897, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers (transl.) The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Introduction, p. v
4
Obsolete A practitioner, one who (publicly) practises or teaches an art or skill.
Two young men of familiar acquaintance … were one euening at a common Inne of this town (as I haue heard) where the one of them shewed his skill on the Virginals, to the no little contentement of the hearers. Nowe as diuers guests of the house came into the room to listen, so among the rest entered an artificiall Conny-catcher, who as occasion serued, in the time of ceissing betweene the seueral toyes and fancies hee plaid: very much commended his cunning, quicke hand, and such qualities praiseworthy in such a professour.1592, Robert Green, The Thirde & Last Part of Conny-catching, Bodleian Library (Malone 575), London: John Lane. Reprinted in 1923, Harrison, G. B. (ed.), The Bodley Head Quartos III, Plainstow, Great Britain: Curwen Press, p. 29
You could hear […] pianos under the hands of whorehouse professors sounding like they came with keys between the keys.2006, Thomas Pynchon, “(please specify the page)”, in Against the Day, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Press, →ISBN:
6
The puppeteer who performs a Punch and Judy show; a Punchman.
The title for someone who holds the job of professor.
2
Derogatory, Informal, Sometimes A mock title for a person seen as pedantic or obsessive on a topic.
This is just what I wanted. I got professor environment pants over here, and I can't get my jetski started. How am I gonna get back?2022 July 14, Charlie Berens and You Betcha, Kayak Vs Jetski: