polemann.
/ˈpəʊlmən/, U.S. /ˈpoʊlmən/ 1. † a. = nightman n. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > emptying or cleaning of privies > [noun] > one who
gong farmerc1302
dung farmer1546
nightman1579
jakes farmer1591
jakes barreller1596
lantern-man1599
gold-finder1611
poleman1615
night-farmer1620
jakesman1630
1615 in Repertory Court of Aldermen (Corp. London Rec. Office) XXXII. f. 147 Diverse p[er]sons who use to emptie and cleanse privies vaultes draughts or Wydraughts wthin the Cittie..and..lib[er]ties..bearing the names of Nightmen or Polemen.
1689 Deposition 21 June in Repertory Court of Aldermen (Corp. London Rec. Office) XXXV. No. 3 Thomas Ransdell one of the Polemen..was hyred by ffrancis Slyer to empty a Sinck or Wydraught in Goldstreet neer Gutter lane.
b. gen. A person who uses or wields a pole, esp. as a means of propelling a boat.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > armed man > [noun] > club or stick
cudgeller1580
club-man1597
billeter1643
clubster1727
polemana1750
bludgeon-man1797
bludgeonist1811
batman1833
bludgeoner1842
clubber1887
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific tools or equipment > [noun] > with other specific tools or equipment
presser1545
stamper1556
blocker1609
benchman1658
engineman1777
squaremanc1790
kettleman1833
vice-man1837
poleman1859
tackle-man1859
ladler1875
sand-blaster?1881
ticket chopper1898
cager1908
gadgeteer1926
paint sprayer1928
a1750 A. Hill Wks. (1753) 376 While some, slow pole-men, o'er their toil, reclin'd, Push'd their check'd barks, and, lab'ring, lagg'd behind.
1838 W. Herbert Attila 321 A good horseman, a good archer and poleman.
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 35 The pole-men lower the pole [of a tent].
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 Feb. 3/2 Others [sc. blocks of ice] are detached with ice chisels, and guided by the polemen to the bank.
1934 M. Herskovits & F. Herskovits Rebel Destiny iii. 59 The pole-man in the stern caught his stick in the rocky bottom.
2002 Smithsonian June 30/1 Polemen stationed along the gunwales do most of the steering in quiet waters.
2. Eton College slang. A junior boy who carries a pole in procession during the festival of Montem. Now rare (historical in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > persons and characters > [noun] > participant in specific festivity at Eton
poleman1799
pole bearer1900
1799 Times 15 May 3/4 The Scholars followed, preceded by..the Colonel, Serjeant, Serjeant major, Ensign, Lieutenant, Steward, Polemen, Saltbearers, and Runners.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. i. xi. 126 One or more lower boys, who are denominated ‘Polemen’, but who appear in their ordinary dress.
1898 A. D. Coleridge Eton in Forties 332 The lower boys carried long white poles, from which they derived the name of polemen.
1935 Times 14 June 17/6 Then there were the polemen, who were, roughly speaking, the lower boys, in blue coats, brass buttons, white waistcoats, and white trousers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1615