foretopman

[fawr-top-muhn, fohr-, fawr-tuhp-muhn, fohr-]

noun

plural

foretopmen 

1. a member of a ship's crew stationed on the foretop.

Word History and Origins

Origin of foretopman¹

First recorded in 1810–20; foretop + -man

Example Sentences

He was particularly animated later about a gift from someone:  a 1946 edition of Melville’s Billy Budd, Foretopman.

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In brief, a good-natured young foretopman, Billy Budd, is falsely accused by the master-at-arms, John Claggart, of fomenting mutiny.

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I was a smart young foretopman in them days, lads, an' it was me wot the commodore sent out on that main-yard-arm to drop them grenades down the hatchway of the Serrypis that blowed her up.

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The tall foretopman, who was standing near by, folded his heavy arms across his chest.

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"I've heard tell of that before," remarked the tall foretopman.

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