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.

From The New Yorker

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

From Seattle Times

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg