fireman
English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Steam_Locomotive_Fireman.jpg/220px-Steam_Locomotive_Fireman.jpg)
Etymology
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈfaɪɹmən/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈfaɪəmən/
Audio (UK): (file) - Hyphenation: fire‧man
Noun
fireman (plural firemen)
- (firefighting) Someone (implied male) who is skilled in the work of fighting fire.
- 30 June 2019 'Don't call us for cats stuck in trees', Fire Brigade warns (Daily Telegraph)
- For firemen everywhere rescuing cats from trees has been as much a part of the job as tackling blazing buildings.
- 30 June 2019 'Don't call us for cats stuck in trees', Fire Brigade warns (Daily Telegraph)
- (rail transport, nautical) A person (originally a man) who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler (originally, shoveling coal by hand), particularly on a railroad locomotive or steamship.
- 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.
- 2013 August 24, Sophie Wyllie, quoting Tina Pinney, “Volunteer Tina steams ahead and becomes qualified fireman on North Norfolk Railway”, in Eastern Daily Press[2], →ISSN:
- I was elated to pass because there were times when I did not think I was physically capable. It is quite rare for a woman to become a fireman.
- 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.
- (mining, historical) A safety inspector in coal mines.
Usage notes
- (firefighting): Historically meant only a man, but now used to refer to female firefighters as well. In modern usage, the gender-inclusive term firefighter is generally preferred.
- (rail transport): This term is commonly used for both males and females, firewoman is rarer in this sense.
Coordinate terms
Hypernyms
Related terms
terms related to fireman
Translations
someone skilled in fighting fire — see firefighter
male skilled in fighting fire
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person who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler
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assistant on any locomotive
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pitcher
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See also
Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -man
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- en:Firefighting
- en:Rail transportation
- en:Nautical
- English terms with quotations
- en:Baseball
- en:Mining
- English terms with historical senses
- en:Occupations
- en:People