fireman
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
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Audio (UK) (file)
Noun[edit]
fireman (plural firemen)
- (firefighting) Someone (implied male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.
- (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, 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'.
- 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, Chapter IX, p. 140, [1]
- No grass grew under a train when the engineer let Fireman McLash take the throttle.
- ca. 1913 The wreck of Old 97 [ballad, Blue Ridge Mountains], verse 3:
- (rail transport) By extension of the above, an assistant on any locomotive, whether steam-powered or not.
- (baseball) A relief pitcher.
Usage notes[edit]
Historically meant only a man, now used to refer to female firefighters as well. In modern usage, the gender-inclusive term firefighter is generally preferred.
Antonyms[edit]
Hypernyms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
terms related to fireman
Translations[edit]
someone skilled in fighting fire — see firefighter
male skilled in fighting fire
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man who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler
assistant on any locomotive
pitcher
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