locum

plural locums

1. AustraliaUKabbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of locum tenens.

   "I asked about his Joes, he said the Joes could look after themselves and if Jack was bothered about them he could send a locum."

   1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy

   1 more example

   There was a certain amount of feeling evidenced against Dr. Quentin. To begin with, he was not the regular doctor, only a locum, putting in a month’s work, whilst Dr. Bolitho was away on a well-earned holiday.

   1927, Agatha Christie, The Big Four

2. AustraliaUKinformalA period working as a locum tenens.

   1 more example

   -- "I suppose you wouldn't like to do a locum for a month on the South coast? Three guineas a week with board and lodging." -- "I wouldn't mind," said Philip. -- "It's at Farnley, in Dorsetshire. Doctor South. You'd have to go down at once; his assistant has developed mumps. I believe it's a very pleasant place."

   1915, W.S. Maugham, Of Human Bondage, chapter 116

plural loca

1. historicalA share in a Genoese trading vessel.