pitman

¹ American  

[pit-muhn] / ˈpɪt mən /

noun

plural

pitmen, pitmans

1. a person who works in a pit, as in coal mining.

2. Machinery. any of certain types of connecting rods.

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Pitman ² American  

[pit-muhn] / ˈpɪt mən /

noun

1. Sir Isaac, 1813–97, English inventor of a system of shorthand.

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Pitman ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪtmən /

noun

1. Sir Isaac. 1813–97, English inventor of a system of phonetic shorthand (1837)

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pitman ² British  

/ ˈpɪtmən /

noun

1. a person who works down a mine, esp a coal miner

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Etymology

Origin of pitman

First recorded in 1600–10; pit ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

Towering over a high street in a former mining heartland, a statue of a pitman reminds Cornwall of its industrial past.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2023

A new full-time pitman, 27-year-old Daniel Williams from Reedville, Va., was hired about a year ago to replace 72-year-old James Howell, a veteran of some 30 years, who continues part time.

From Washington Post • Sep. 20, 2015

Other new material includes a sturdy treatment of The Trimdon Grange Explosion, by the 19th-century "pitman poet" Tommy Armstrong, and the lengthy, elaborate, four-part Father's Suite, which includes brass-and-piano compositions from Rachel's husband, Adrian McNally.

From The Guardian • Jul. 26, 2012

Customers order at the counter, where a pitman slices their meat on a big butcher block and serves it on brown butcher paper, just like at Kreuz.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2011

A cast-iron model of a New Idea mower with an operating pitman for use behind a tractor.

From Agricultural Implements and Machines in the Collection of the National Museum of History and Technology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, No. 17 by Schlebecker, John T.