old-timer
UK: ˈəʊldˌtaɪmə | US: ˈoʊldˌtaɪmər
n. 1. A person who has been in a particular place, job, or activity for a long time; a veteran.
n. 2. An elderly person (often used affectionately or humorously).
n. 3. (Informal) Something old or outdated, such as a machine or tradition.
The word "old-timer" combines "old" (from Old English eald, meaning "aged" or "long-standing") with "timer" (derived from "time," originating from Old English tīma, and the agent suffix "-er"). The term emerged in the mid-19th century, originally referring to someone who had been in a place or role for a long time. Over time, it gained a colloquial tone, often used to affectionately describe elderly individuals or relics of the past. The logic is straightforward: an "old-timer" is someone (or something) marked by the passage of time.
The old-timer at the factory shared stories about how things used to be done.
My grandfather is quite the old-timer, still using a rotary phone.
That car is a real old-timer—it’s been in the family for 50 years.
The club’s old-timers organized a reunion for former members.
He’s an old-timer in the music industry, having started his career in the 1960s.