fireman

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 Synonyms 1.2.3 Translations 1.2.4 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

fire +‎ -man

[edit] Noun

fireman (plural firemen)

1. (firefighting) A person who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.
2. (firefighting) A fireman that is of the male sex (see usage note).
3. (rail transport) A man who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler (originally, shoveling coal by hand), particularly on a railroad locomotive.

   ca. 1913 The wreck of Old 97 [ballad, (US, Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains)], verse 3:

   • He looked around his cab at his black greasy fireman, saying 'shovel on a little more coal, and when we cross that White Oak Mountain, you can watch Old 97 roll'.

4. (rail transport) By extension of the above, an assistant on any locomotive, whether steam-powered or not.
5. (baseball) A relief pitcher.

[edit] Usage notes

Fireman and its plural are usually used to refer to all firefighters. For a female firefighter, firewoman or firefighter is sometimes preferred.

[edit] Synonyms

• firefighter
• smoke eater

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

fire truck fire engine fire extinguisher fire hose

fire station fire hydrant fireplug tillerman