gandy dancer

[ gan-dee ]

nounRailroads Slang.
  1. a member of a railroad section gang that lays or maintains track.

Origin of gandy dancer

1
1915–20; dancer apparently in reference to the rhythmic movements characteristic of such work; gandy is unexplained; the existence of a Gandy Manufacturing Company, which supposedly produced tools used by section gangs, has not been substantiated

Words Nearby gandy dancer

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British Dictionary definitions for gandy dancer

gandy dancer

/ (ˈɡændɪ) /


noun
  1. slang a railway track maintenance worker

Origin of gandy dancer

1
C20: of uncertain origin

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