the master of a household; husband.
(initial capital letter) a title of respect used for a man below the rank of gentleman, especially a farmer or yeoman.
a husband
a man not of gentle birth: used as a title
a master of a household
Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at good, -man
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Both Manuel Quezon and goodman Osme�a were mum last week.
From Time Magazine Archive
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith my time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
From Walks and Words of Jesus A Paragraph Harmony of the Four Evangelists by Olmsted, M. N.
But was she to be again balked by goodman Matthew?
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William
Well, every man to his own taste; but, Betty, excuse my asking so personal a question, why do you always refer to your goodman here as "Nathan, puir falla"?'
From Betty Grier by Waugh, Joseph Laing
Upon my honor, this little goodman is very fractious.
From The Barber of Paris by Kock, Charles Paul de
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
