| 释义 |
highwayman|ˈhaɪˌweɪmən|
[f. prec.: formerly as three words or two, without or with hyphens. In some districts with chief stress on way.]
1. One who frequents the highway for the purpose of robbing passengers; esp. one who does this on horseback, as distinguished from a foot-pad.
1649Thomasson Tracts (Brit. Mus.) DXXXIII. xxxi. 20 This last session there suffered 28, most of them high way men. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. 34 ‘Tis like the friendship of pickpockets and highwaymen, that are said to observe strict justice among themselves. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 553 The charms of riot and debauchery make highwaymen and housebreakers. 1782Cowper Gilpin 237 They raised the hue and cry:—‘Stop thief! stop thief!—a highwayman!’ 1789–1840 [see foot-pad]. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 382 It was necessary to the success and even to the safety of the highwayman that he should be a bold and skilful rider.
fig.1694Acc. Sev. Late Voy. ii. (1711) 25 We take..Guns and Lances, to resist the Highway-men the Bears.
2. local. A surveyor of highways. (In use in north Lincolnshire and elsewhere.)
1888Freeman in W. R. W. Stephens Life (1895) II. 379 Ex. officio guardians and highwaymen I count for a mistake.
3. Used attrib. or in the possessive designating a type of long loose coat or cape suggestive of the kind once worn by highwaymen.
1901Daily Chron. 9 July 3/5 Sarah Bernhardt..looked very striking in a wonderful gown..half-concealed by a long paletot of white silk, made in the ‘highwayman’ shape, with a number of natty little capes. 1960Guardian 29 July 7/1 A very dashing full length highwayman coat..with a huge cape collar. 1966Vogue Nov. 88 (caption) Vogue's adventurers wear..highwaymen's coats.
Hence ˌhighˈwaymanhood, the condition of a highwayman (see footpaddery quot. 1861). |