man Friday

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English

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Etymology

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From man (adult male servant) +‎ Friday, coined by the English writer Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – 1731) in his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719) as the name of the protagonist Crusoe’s companion and servant; he is rescued by Crusoe from cannibal captives on a Friday.[1] Crusoe frequently refers to him as “my man Friday”.[2]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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man Friday (plural man Fridays or men Friday or men Fridays)

  1. A trusted man whose job is to assist and organize someone else's day-to-day business or personal tasks; a personal assistant, a right-hand man; also, a trusted male companion.
    Coordinate term: girl Friday
  2. (derogatory) An aborigine or native, especially one who inhabits an island.
    • 1966 August 24, D[enis] A[rthur] Greenhill, British Indian Ocean Territory [handwritten note on a confidential diplomatic cable relating to the depopulation of the Chagos Archipelago]‎[1]:
      Unfortunately along with the Birds go some few Tarzans or Men Fridays whose origins are obscure, and who are being hopefully wished on to Mauritius etc.

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ [Daniel Defoe] (6 May 1719 (Gregorian calendar)) The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, [], 3rd edition, London: [] W[illiam] Taylor [], →OCLC, page 244:[] I made him knovv his Name ſhould be Friday, vvhich vvas the Day I ſav'd his Life; I call'd him ſo for the Memory of the Time; []
  2. ^ See, for example, Robinson Crusoe, page 245: “[] I took my Man Friday vvith me, giving him the Svvord in his hand, with the Bovv and Arrovvs at his Back, []

Further reading

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