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motorman

[moh-ter-muh n]
noun, plural mo·tor·men.
  1. a person who operates or drives an electrically operated vehicle, as a streetcar or subway train.
  2. a person who operates a motor.
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Origin of motorman

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; motor + -man

Usage note

See -man.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for motorman

Historical Examples of motorman

  • A motorman sands the track when he wishes to stop the car on a hill.

    Common Science

    Carleton W. Washburne

  • But we're busy with the instruments; leave the motorman alone!

    Islands of Space

    John W Campbell

  • "If he's hurt the best place for him is a hospital," remarked the motorman.

  • The motorman had stopped his car and had run back to the scene with the conductor.

  • The motorman turned his wheel and the cloud moved rapidly on.

    Andiron Tales

    John Kendrick Bangs

British Dictionary definitions for motorman

motorman

noun plural -men
  1. the driver of an electric train
  2. the operator of a motor
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012