topsmann.
dialect and slang.
1. Scottish and northern dialect. A head man, bailiff, principal servant; esp. the chief drover in charge of a herd of cattle on the road.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > herding of cattle > cowherd
cowherda1000
oxherd1281
geldherd1284
nowtherd1296
neatherd1301
drover1384
catcherc1400
caller?a1500
ox-boy1580
neatress1586
harrier1591
cowherdess1611
spurn-cow1614
neatherdess1648
cowgirl1753
herds-woman1818
oxman1820
ranchero1825
topsman1825
vaquero1826
herdsmaiden1829
overlander1841
cattle-herd1845
cowboy1849
buckaroo1852
stock-rider1862
pointer1869
night-herder1870
puncher1870
bull-puncher1872
outrider1872
cowpuncher1873
range man1875
cow-puncher1878
herd-boy1878
cow-girl1884
trail-herd1885
trail boss1890
nighthawk1903
point man1903
swing man1903
top hand1912
charro1926
waddy1927
cattle-puncher1928
cowpoke1928
paniolo1947
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > steward or bailiff in charge of another's property > on a farm > chief
topsman1825
1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Topsman, the head man or manager, the chief hind or bailiff.
1827 W. Scott Two Drovers in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. xiii. 293 Many large droves were about to set off for England, under the protection of their owners, or of the topsmen whom they employed.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 92 Some dealers' top's-men, that is, the men who take charge of their master's lots after delivery.
2. slang. A hangman. Cf. top v.1 6, headsman n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > hanging > [noun] > hangman
boiec1320
hangman1393
hangerc1430
lockman1488
burrioc1540
bourreauc1550
burriourc1550
derrickc1600
passport-maker1602
topman1607
derrick-jastro?1609
verdugo1616
windpipe-stretcher1617
Gregorya1658
locksman1682
Ketch1685
Jack Ketch1696
finisher of the law1708
topsman1825
scrag-boy1843
scragger1897
1825 Celebrated Trials IV. 171 R. Turpin..after speaking half an hour to the topsman, threw himself off the ladder, and expired in about five minutes.
1883 A. Dobson Old World Idylls 29 Waved to the crowd with his gold-laced hat; Talked to the Chaplain after that; Turned to the Topsman undismayed.
1885 H. M. Milner Turpin's Ride to York i. iii. 5/2 I shall never come to the scragging-post, unless you turn topsman.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
n.1825