Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a member of a rock band’s support unit who sets up and dismantles stage, equipment etc. [they go ‘on the road’ with the band].

1969		Fabian & Byrne Groupie 72: Bill, the roadie, buys me a drink.
1977		Daily Mirror 20 Aug. 9: He knew not to [...] get too close, as three of the executive roadies did a year ago – and got fired for it.
1984		W.M. Henderson Stark Raving Elvis 62: Roadies hauled equipment in.
1993		M. Myers et al. Wayne’s World II [film script] That’s Barry. He used to be a roadie.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 398: They all probably think I’m one of their roadies.
2000		Indep. Rev. 29 Feb. 4: Those rock’n’roll stalwarts, the roadies.
2010		Codella and Bennett Alphaville (2011) 263: Band, club and bar managers hired him as a roadie, doorman, bouncer, and titty bar MC.

2. (N.Z.) one employed in road maintenance [they lit. work on it].

1983

K. Hulme Bone People 241: I’ve known roadies who knew theirs was a high place in the scheme of things.

3. (Aus.) a last drink [‘have one for the road’].

1993

Aus. Word Map 🌐 a drink (usually a can/stubbie of beer) that you drink in the car on the way home: Have a roadie for the trip home.

4. a beer or alcoholic beverage carried to be consumed ‘on the road’.

1999

D. Lehane Prayers for Rain 25: ‘Mind if I grab a roadie?’ I couldn’t see what harm a beer on the ride could do to a guy heading off to jail. ‘Sure’.

5. see road dog under road n.