Meaning

noun (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play

noun someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication

noun an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case

originFrom Middle English [Term?], from past participle of Old French referer (“to relate, to refer”), from Latin referre (“to carry back, to report, to notify”); as if refer + -ee, that is, the person to whom something is referred for consideration.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0